STRANDED individuals in Cebu City who plan to return to their respective hometowns that require a negative swab test result this Holiday season can still avail of the free swab testing from the government.
The free swab test for Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019, at the Bayanihan Cebu Swabbing Center located at the International Eucharistic Congress Convention Center along Pope John Paul II Avenue in Mabolo, Cebu City is available Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Since it does not accept walk-ins to prevent prolonged exposure at the center, the public is required to book their schedules ahead.
Bayanihan Cebu can be reached through its official Facebook page at Bayanihan Cebu PH.
As of Friday, December 4, 2020, the Bayanihan Cebu Swabbing Center said it has already done 23,257 swabs with an average of 191 swabs per day.
The swabbing center already released a total of 23,012 results (98.9 percent), while the remaining 245 swabs are still awaiting results.
As per the Department of Health-Central Visayas, the expected turnaround time is three to five days. The count starts a day after the swab test, excluding weekends.
Aside from the Bayanihan Cebu Swabbing Center, the public can also still avail of the free walk-in and drive-in swab test at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC).
Lawyer Rey Cris Panugaling, head of the VSMMC's Information, Communication and Strategy Management Office said as of November 25, they have already done 29,300 swabs. Of the number, 16,653 are via drive-thru while 12,647 are via walk-thru.
Those who want to be tested must first register online at the VSMMC official website to book an appointment.
The result of the test will be available after around four days and will be sent through email.
The hospital earlier said the drive-thru can cater to 10 clients per hour; while the walk-thru can accommodate 20 clients in an hour. (WBS)