The Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) said there are no more delays in the release of COVID-19 RT-PCR test results of returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs).
BOQ Deputy Director Dr. Roberto Salvador Jr. said in the Jan. 22 Laging Handa briefing that laboratories were able to submit test results to the BOQ within 24 hours after the first week of January.
“Nangyari lang naman po ang delay ng swab test result during the time po na talagang maraming nag-positive at noong kumalat po ang Omicron sa lahat po ng ahensiya ng gobyerno, even private laboratory po,” he said.
“Nangyari po ito noong last week po ng December hanggang first week siguro ng January kung saan po iyong mga ahensiya natin and iyong mga laboratory po eh tinamaan iyong mga staff kaya po may mga nagsara o kumaunti iyong capacity dahil sa kakulangan ng tao,” he added.
The official said they have a daily average capacity of 3,000 arrivals, with close to 300 testing positive per day.
Meanwhile, he said recent cases of hotel quarantine escapees have been filed before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). – With reports from Karen Villanda/AG
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