VICE President Leni Robredo on Monday, August 30, 2021, called anew for the conduct of mass testing as a measure to contain transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Robredo made the call after the Philippines set a new record of 22,366 new Covid-19 cases in a day.
“Staggering numbers today - 22,366 new cases!! With a positivity rate of 27.5 percent and 65,237 tests conducted, we can safely presume that the real number of new cases is so much more than these,” she said in a Facebook post.
“Kahit para na tayong sirang plaka, uulitin pa din natin - we are simply not testing enough!!! Gustong sabihin, ang daming gumagala na Covid positives na hindi nga nila alam na infected na pala sila. 'Pag hindi nila alam, lalong dadami lang ang mahahawaan pa nila,” she added.
Robredo also scored the weak contact tracing efforts.
“Kung hindi natin aayusin trabaho natin, ilang buhay pa yung mawawala?,” Robredo said.
As of August 30, Covid-19 cases in the country reached 1,976,202, with 33,330 deaths.
Earlier, testing czar Vince Dizon said the Philippines will maintain risk-based and targeted testing, which means that only those who were exposed to Covid-19 patients, those with symptoms, and those living in outbreak areas will be tested.
He said the country’s capability to conduct Covid-19 testing has increased but remains to be limited and not ideal for mass testing.
On August 28, the Department of Health recorded 65,237 tests in a day. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)