CAGAYAN de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno has ordered all diagnostic and laboratory centers in the city to consult and coordinate with the City Health Office (CHO) or Department of Health (DOH) before conducting rapid test procedures on clients.

Moreno issued the order on June 19, 2020, requiring prior consultation and coordination with the CHO or DOH before laboratory centers hold rapid test procedures for Covid-19.

The order said all diagnostic and laboratory centers in the city which undertake rapid testing procedures shall immediately submit the results of their tests to the CHO for information and appropriate action.

The order also said diagnostic and lab centers that will violate the order may face cancellation of business permits.

Authorities said rapid testing cannot stand alone as it needs confirmatory tests through the real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.

In Northern Mindanao, only the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) and DOH TBRC can conduct RT-PCR testing. Once an individual tested positive in either rapid test or RT-PCR, the City Government undergoes risk assessment.

Asymptomatic cases are brought to city isolation units managed by health professionals while those who showed symptoms will be admitted to the Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Disease ward of the NMMC.