TAGUIG CITY LAUNCHES ‘ALL-IN-ONE’ COVID TESTING, QUARANTINE FACILITY

To hit the city’s target of testing 10 percent of its total population by the end of 2021, the city government of Taguig inaugurated on Friday an “all- in- one” Covid- 19 complex equipped with its own swabbing center, quarantine and isolation facility and a molecular laboratory at the Lakeshore Hotel.

The launching of the new complex is expected to supplement an all- out government approach to test, trace and treat Covid- 19 cases, which has kept the city’s infection rate among the lowest in the National Capital Region this September. As of September 22, the city has the lowest number of active cases per 100,000 people across NCR.

The Depar tment of Health granted the molecular laborator y a license to operate on September 13 after hurdling a five- step assessment, which included on- site assessment and proficiency tests for the staff.

The lab will have both a manual and automated testing machines managed by teams on shifts composed of medical technicians, medical aids and others. At full capacity, the lab will help reach Taguig’s target of 100,000 real- time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction ( RT- PCR) tests by the end of the year, which is equivalent to 10 percent of Taguig’s total population.

Even without its own testing laboratory, Taguig managed to conduct almost 50,000 RT- PCR tests as of September 23, representing over 5 percent of the total population. This was made possible through its strong partnerships with the national government and private testing facilities.

“This testing facility will be a long- term benefit to the city to help us better manage the Covid- 19 situation. Aside from that, the lab can also test pathogens affecting both humans and animals, allowing us to avert serious health issues in the future,” said Mayor Lino Cayetano. Within the same complex, the local government will be opening the much- awaited 500- bed Covid- 19 Lakeshore Mega Quarantine Facility.

For Section 1 of the facility, 70 units were opened on Friday and the other sections will be opened over the next few weeks.

The entire complex is expected to be completed in three months, right before the Christmas season when the city anticipates a possible spike in Covid- 19 cases.

Once completed, the Mega Quarantine Facility will add to the five quarantine facilities in the city that include newly built structures and repurposed government buildings.

The structures ensure comfort for patients conducive to healing, complete with beds, partitions, air- conditioning, toilet and bath and a living room. All units will also have tables to help in entertaining patients and consulting with doctors. Robonurses, created by the young students of Taguig Robotics Team, will also care for the patients.

Among the city’s touted homegrown approaches are the Systematic Mass Approach to Responsible Testing, aggressive contact tracing mechanisms tapping into barangays, and localized lockdowns.

Cayetano said that the local government of Taguig is working with the National Task Force ( NTF) for the city to effectively transition to the new normal.

Health Secretar y and Inter- Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases Chairman Francisco T. Duque III lauded Taguig City for recording one of the lowest numbers of active cases and lowest fatality rate in NCR.

Meanwhile, NTF Co- Chairman and Interior Secretar y Eduardo Año also commended the city saying, “Ito ang tunay pangangalaga na kailanganng mamamayan [ This is the kind of care that our countrymen needs] complete package!”

For his par t, National Action Plan Against Covid- 19 Chief Implementer Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. said that the establishment of the facility is a local victor y “but this is also a national victor y,” emphasizing that “ever y success in our national Covid- 19 response is a success of ever yone.”

The facility has initially opened 70 isolation units with the rest to be operational in the coming weeks.