City extends drive-thru Covid-19 testing

THE Davao City Health Office (CHO) is planning to extend the drive-thru swab testing at the Davao Crocodile Park for another six months and will now cater the general public as part of the city’s Covid-19 expanded contact tracing and surveillance.

CHO Acting Head Dr. Ashley Lopez said in a radio interview on Thursday, May 13, that the free drive-thru swab test, which started on April 26 to all drivers of public transportation and delivery services, will now also be open for businesses and establishments workers required to undergo swabbing.

Lopez said the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force decided to submit a formal letter requesting the Crocodile Park management to extend the swabbing activities within the area for another six months.

“We request for another extension. This time from May 17 up to six months. Unom ka bulan nga (It is six months) extension so that it will serve as an extension swabbing center,” he said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

The health official said the city government has been received positively since it started its drive-thru testing.

The drive thru swab ended on May 8, but was extended for two more days on May 10 and 11 for private security personnel.

“Positive man gud ang feedback sa atoa diha, and nag-express ang daghang kumpanya kung pwede mas ganahan sila ma-cater diha sa Crocodile Park kumpara sa Sta. Ana [Health Center] (We received positive feedback, and many companies expressed that they wanted to be catered at the Crocodile Park compared to Sta. Ana),” Lopez said, adding the Sta. Ana caters to Covid-19 referrals from district health offices, and those who were notified through Safe Davao QR (DQR).

Lopez said companies preferred to be swabbed at Crocodile Park because it is a spacious and open air-area and it is convenient to look for parking.

(Read full story on sunstar.com. ph/davao)