The Department of Health (DOH) has reported 96 additional positive cases of COVID-19 on Friday afternoon, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 803.
The number of fatalities also jumped to 54, while a total of 31 patients have now recovered.
DOH USec. Maria Rosario Vergeire bared most of those who have tested positive have acquired the virus before the implementation of enhanced community quarantine.
Vergeire said the release of results of those tested by the RITM takes up to one week due to the backlogs brought by the limited number of testing kits. She added that within two to three days, the process maybe shortened to 24 to 48 hours.
The DOH said 2,147 individuals have already been tested, and reiterated that a person needs two or more testing kits.
The health department has a warning on the release of rapid testing kits.
“‘Yun pong mga hindi rehistrado ng FDA ay hindi po legal. Maaaring makasama sa kalusugan dahil maaaring magbigay ng false negative or false positive at maaaring ikapahamak niyo o ng inyong pamilya, o di kaya ng inyong kumunidad (Those unregistered with FDA are illegal. It could harmful to one’s health since it could bring false negative or false positive, and may endanger the family and the community),” Vergeire said.
The DOH has been aiming to expand laboratories to be used for testing. There are currently 30 laboratories in the country that have expressed interest to conduct COVID-19 tests, but will still have to undergo DOH assessment.
As for the laboratory in Marikina, the DOH has been coordinating with the LGU to make its facilities compliant.
DOH also announced that the COVID wing of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) with a 130-bed capacity is now fully operational. The Quezon Institute will also be used as a quarantine facility for PUIs and PUMs.
Meanwhile, the DOH has reiterated its call for volunteers to work for COVID referral hospitals in the NCR.
Report from Mark Fetalco
