Follow us for updates
© 2020 reportr.world
Read the Story →

Government Hasn’t Met Target of 8,000 COVID-19 Tests Daily, Says Palace

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said they are taking steps to increase capacity.
by Clara Rosales
May 11, 2020
Photo/s: Pixabay / Belova59
Shares
Shares

The government failed to meet its target of conducting 8,000 daily COVID-19 tests by April 30, admitted the Palace on May 11. 

Despite missing the target, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that the government is constructing more testing centers in order to increase the country’s testing capacity.

“Unang una po, hindi ko madi-dispute na medyo hindi natin nakamit yung goal na by April 30, meron nang 8,000 na daily testing ang DOH [Department of Health], na-delay po tayo,” Roque said in an virtual press briefing.

“One thing that I can assure you is that we’re taking steps to increase our testing capacity,” he said. 

According to Roque, the country has 28 testing centers, including the four mega swabbing facilities in Luzon. He also said constructing more testing facilities will help reach the daily target of 30,000 tests by the end of May.

“Combined po, we’re hoping that we will eventually upgrade and improve our testing capacity kasi it is only through testing na malalaman natin kung nasaan ang kalaban,” Roque said.

Continue reading below ↓

On May 8, the National Task Force COVID-19 said the country has the capacity to conduct 12,000 COVID-19 tests.

However, only 7,000 tests have been conducted daily, said COVID-19 Response Deputy Chief Implementer Vince Dizon. There is a need to increase the ability to get the specimen from more people, he added.

As of May 11, 4 p.m., there are 11,086 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country, with 726 deaths and 1,999 recoveries.

Main image from Pixabay.

READ MORE STORIES ABOUT