THE Iloilo City Government has requested the National Government for RT-PCR test kits to manage the surge of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in the city.
The city’s molecular laboratory has been aggressively mass testing those who have been tagged as close contacts of confirmed cases due to the more than 100 Covid-19 cases recorded daily for the past three weeks.
Many of those who have signs and symptoms of the disease have also been subjected to swabbing.
The high number of individuals being tested has resulted in the depletion of lab consumables.
“We test more than 500 a day. We only have 1,600 test kits left. We have even resorted to borrowing some from neighboring provinces because the upkeep for people required to be tested demands so. Anent to this, we fervently plead for the immediate provision of 50,000 RT-PCR test kits and other consumables necessary to proceed without entailing delay on our massive testing,” Mayor Jerry Treñas said.
“The apparent shortage of our RT-PCR test kits has caused the Iloilo City Covid team to implement as a temporary measure the mandatory quarantine for 14 days of those tagged as close contacts and to conduct testing only once symptoms have manifested,” he added.
Testing can immediately assess the source of infection to slow down the spread.
“We remain with our stance that only through massive testing of all close contacts can we identify and effectively isolate those who have been infected. Given the rapid mutations of virus and emergence of new variants, the City Government is resolute in maintaining aggressive community testing, to ensure immediate and efficient implementation of the containment strategies in deterrence of the rapid surge in cases in the locality,” Treñas said.
“But with the depleted resources that we have, our situation forces us to seek your assistance in the provision of test kits and other consumables, lest we bring the supply of Iloilo City to a critical level. It is with extreme urgency that the undersigned hopes for your favorable response on the matter,” he added.
The request was addressed to Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III with attention to Dr. Nestor Santiago Jr., DOH assistant secretary of Health Public Health Services Team; Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19; and NTF Deputy Chief Implementer Secretary Vivencio Dizon. (PR)