THE Provincial Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) Command Center confirmed the start of province-wide testing Thursday, April 2.
Former Third District Rep. Alfredo Benitez who is now provincial consultant on Economic Affairs and Investments Promotion confirmed that a total of 800 Covid-19 testing kits has arrived and are intended for the province and Bacolod City.
The testing kits are administered by the Provincial Health Office (PHO) and it will be used for suspected carriers of the virus.
It will take four days from testing or swabbing to determine the results as it will only be sent to Iloilo where two testing machines have been set up at the Western Visayas Medical Center.
Initially, about 360 suspected carriers have been swabbed, Benitez said.
He said those who will be made to undergo testing or swabbing are those from the areas which were classified as ‘Hot Zones’ that includes 53 areas from 24 local government units.
The latest Hot Zones were in San Enrique and Talisay City.
The areas which were identified by the Provincial Incident Managament Team as hot zones from 22 LGUs were six in Bago City; Binalbagan - 2; Cadiz City - 1; Calatrava - 3, Cauayan - 1; E.B. Magalona - 2; Escalante - 1; Himamaylan - 2; Hinigaran - 4; Isabela - 1: Kabankalan - 1; La Carlota - 2; Manapla - 1; Moises Padilla - 3; Murcia - 1; Pontevedra - 2; Pulupandan - 1; Sagay - 2; San Carlos City - 8; Sipalay - 2, Talisay - 2 and Valladolid - 3.
Benitez said they hope to saturate the testing and swabbing in two days.
The two testing centers in Iloilo have the capacity of testing 200 swab samples per day.
“We need to determine those who are positive of the virus so that close monitoring and quarantine would be done,” Benitez said.
“Stay at home and always protect yourselves. That’s the help each and everyone of us can do to help contain the virus,” Benitez added.
He also reminded everyone to follow the Executive Order issued by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on mandatory use of face mask when going out.
Many of us are not aware that we touch our face at least 1,000 a day so washing our hands properly with soap and alcohol must be observed to avoid contaminating the virus,” the former congressman added.