Tabuk readies RTPCR pop-up lab

IN ITS effort to effectively address Covid19 medical related measure, the local government unit (LGU)of Tabuk City in Kalinga Province is set to establish its own Real- Time reverse transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction ( RT - PCR) pop-up laboratory.

In the Network Briefing of the Presidential Communications Operations Office ( PCOO), Tabuk City Mayor Darwin Estrañero explained aside from the protocol on triaging at the evacuation center for those entering the city the LGU is now fast tracking the establishment of its own

RT-PCR system.

“We are now fast tracking the establishment of our own RT – PCR lab so that we would not have to bring our samples all the way up to Baguio City and await for the results between three to four days,” Estranero said.

The RT-PCR has a 98% accuracy in identifying Covid cases.

“We have actually allocated P15 million for the pop-up laboratory to which we project the speedier entry of tourists who will all undergo swab testing once we allow their entry to into the city,” the Chief Executive stated.

As of the moment, Tabuk City is strictly implementing minimum health standards or protocols in managing Covid-19 cases in the City.

“Since we still do not have our own pop- up laboratory, we are enforcing to those entering the city to undergo antigen testing or have their own swab results before entering the city. We have made coordination meetings with our tourism establishments like our hotels for the observance of the minimum health protocols and of course the strict wearing of masks which we always remind them because it would be a futile effort for how many hours of wearing a mask and when they go for lunch or dinner, they discuss with each other giving the possibility of transmitting the virus,” Estranero added.

As of December 10, Tabuk City has 246 confirmed Covid19 cases.

As of this writing, Tabuk City has 33 active.