The Department of Health (DOH) assured the continuous strengthening of the country’s testing capacity amid the threat of the Delta variant.
DOH Undersecretary and treatment czar Leopoldo Vega said on Wednesday (July 21) more molecular laboratories that conduct COVID-19 testing are now being operated compared to last year. He added that the release of test results is now between 24 to 72 hours, which is also quicker than before.
“Ang contingency po namin ngayon, dahil marami na pong nag-a-apply for accreditation for molecular laboratory, dumarami na rin ngayon ang molecular laboratories na na-accredit po natin, compared last year at even last April,” he said.
Aside from this, he said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has hired additional contact tracers to hasten the contact tracing of COVID-19 positive individuals.
Meanwhile, the Philippines has detected 12 more local cases of Delta variant in the country. Six cases were found in Region 3, two in Calabarzon, one in Region 5, and three cases in Metro Manila.
Report from Mark Fetalco/NGS- jlo
