Angeles City to start COVID 19 mass testing

Posted on April 24, 2020 by Admin

ANGELES CITY – The Local Government here will start the COVID-19 mass testing on April 29, 2020 using the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved rapid testing kits.

This was announced by Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. on April 23 during a meeting with the city’s health officer, Dr. Lenario Santos, Rural Health Physician Dr. Verona Guevarra, Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center (RLMMC) Officer-in-Charge, Dr. Froilan Santos, and his chief adviser, Director IC Calaguas.

Based on the guidelines of the Department of Health (DOH) on expanded testing coverage, individuals who are at risk such as: suspected cases, individual with relevant history of travel and exposure, health workers with possible exposure maybe tested.

Lazatin has appropriated a total of P88 million for procurement of 30,000 rapid testing kits, procurement of four units of ventilators, cardiac monitors, additional personal protective equipment (PPE) and facemasks for RLMMC formerly Ospital Ning Angeles (ONA).

RLMMC was designated by the City Government as its COVID 19 center.

Lazatin also appropriated P2 million for the Philippine Red Cross to secure slots for Angeles City residents’ Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing.

As per the guidelines released by the City Government of Angeles, patients will need to be assessed first in the triage area at the RLMMC to determine under which subgroup the patient belongs. The testing center shall refer to the sub-groups of at-risk individuals to determine who should be prioritized.

Only FDA-approved antibody test kits will be used and only medical technologists / practitioners may prescribe and administer antibody-based tests.

Releasing and interpretation of results will be assigned to doctors in charge for COVID-19 patients.

The objective of the mass testing is to identify asymptomatic patients, especially those on the frontlines, and isolate them immediately.