National Action Plan Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the country is improving in terms of addressing the threats posed by COVID-19, following the assessment of Chinese medical experts on the country’s situation in fighting the disease.
The medical experts cited that the lack of beds and limited testing capacity are hindering the Philippines from pinpointing the source of COVID-19 in the country.
Galvez admitted the country lacks diagnostic test kits but assured the government is expediting efforts to acquire more. President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday approved the procurement of almost three million test kits.
There are now 16 approved testing laboratories to help process samples.
Galvez explained there is no need to build COVID-19 dedicated hospitals since the country’s hospitals have the capability to address the health crisis. He added the surpassing of number of recoveries over fatalities indicates an improved healthcare capability.
Local governments are also in continuing efforts to open quarantine facilities for positive and suspected COVID-19 patients.
Galvez earlier inspected the newly converted quarantine facilities in Tarlac and Pampanga such as the ASEAN Convention Center and the National Government Administrative Center and Athletes Village in New Clark City.
The facilities can accommodate more than a thousand patients. – Report from Bea Bernardo
