THE Davao City government put up two more swabbing sites to hasten the demand for Covid-19 testing in the city.
The city government identified Ilang in Tibungco and Shanghai Gym in Matina Aplaya as the new swabbing centers.
City Health Office (CHO) Acting Head Dr. Ashley Lopez said during the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force regular meeting on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, the establishment of new swabbing areas was meant to increase testing and to improve the turnaround time of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results.
Lopez said each of the new swabbing sites aims to cater to at least 500 first-generation contacts (F1s) and those with influenza-like illnesses (ILIs).
The new swabbing sites, to open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays to Saturdays, were expected to improve the city’s testing capacity by 1,000.
Lopez also said F2 and F3 and surveillance swabbing of specimens will be processed at the Southern Philippine Medical Center (SPMC) Molecular Laboratory.
“The city government partners with a private laboratory to ensure a short turnaround time of 24 to 48 hours of tests among F1 and ILIs,” the health official said.
Lopez said One World Diagnostics will provide swabbers in Ilang, Tibungco and Matina Aplaya for the testing of close contacts and ILIs.
The Davao International Airport molecular laboratory can also process 90 specimens per day while the new Los Amigos Davao Laboratory can cater to at least 50 specimens daily.
Meanwhile, Covid-19 Task Force Spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser said the swabbing sites at the Sta. Ana Health Center, Magsaysay Park, and Crocodile Park are still operational.
She earlier said they hoped to achieve RT-PCR test result’s turnaround time of two to three days despite the surge in Covid-19 cases.
“As much as possible, we want to give the results right away aron dili kaayo maguol while waiting tong na-test (so that those tested won’t be anxious while waiting for the result). They will also go on with their usual activities, secured that they are already negative. Para sa ilahang work requirements (It is important as a work requirement), we don’t want them to hamper their usual activities as their work is at stake,” she added.
Since the city heightened its Covid-19 testing in April this year, it has conducted more than 1,000 tests daily. (With reports from CIO)
