As PHL nears 5,000 Covid-19 cases, DOH says over 35K tests were done
THE Department of Health (DOH) on Monday reported over 35,000 Covid-19 tests conducted as the country nears the 5,000-mark of infected persons.
In a virtual press conference, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they already conducted 35,804 individual tests as of 6 p.m. of April 12. Of the number, 5,187 were positive cases while 30,585 yielded negative results.
Vergeire clarified that the number of cases in the individual tests is higher compared to the number of confirmed cases, “because the result of positive tests will still undergo validation and processing.”
She added: “We still have to conduct repeat tests for positive patients. That is why we have a higher number of positive tests in the laboratory than our reported confirmed cases,” Vergeire said.
As of 4 p.m. April 13, the DOH reported 284 new cases (4,649-4,932) of Covid-19, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 4,932.
The DOH also reported the highest number of recoveries, at 45. This brings the total number of recoveries to 242.
Meanwhile, 18 deaths were reported, bringing the total number of deaths to 315.
Expanded testing Asscheduled,vergeirealsoannounced that the Covid-19 expanded testing will start on Tuesday (April 14).
She also said the number of referral hospitals has already increased to 75; these can accommodate a total of 3,194 Covid-19 patients.
Vergeire reiterated that priorities for testing include cases of those seriously ill and essential frontline personnel, among others.
Earlier, the DOH also announced that persons with Covid-19 symptoms but who remain untested will be called “suspect,” and those awaiting results are tagged “probable.”
Those patients with positive results from official testing laboratories will be considered “confirmed” cases.
Vergeire said that the new system is in line with global standards in reporting of Covid-19 cases.
Due to its expanded testing protocol, the DOH is optimistic that it can conduct 10,000 tests per day by end of April. There are currently 10 laboratories accredited and capable of testing patients nationwide.
These include the Medical City in Pasig City; St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City; Bicol Public Health Laboratory in Legazpi City, Albay, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City; Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center in Benguet; San Lazaro Hospital in Manila City; Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City; Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City; University of the Philippines’ National Institutes of Health in Manila; and Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City.