Benguet is set to conduct targeted testing at high-risk areas to lessen the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
Gov. Melchor Diclas said one of the recommendations of the provincial health sector is the conduct of targeted testing in areas where the public congregate.
“The municipal health officers are advising us to conduct more aggressive but targeted testing. We will strategize it in high-risk areas such as market, churches, banks, restaurants, and groceries,” Diclas said.
He said the testing capacity of the Benguet General Hospital molecular laboratory can run 500 tests in a day with its increased personnel.
The provincial government will also conduct regular testing of authorized persons outside of residence such as uniformed personnel, government workers and health workers.
The said the province increased its testing capacity to 121 percent in May as compared to April.
Also, the province’s positivity rate or the number of patients that tested positive from those tested is quite high at 10.86 percent while fatality rate is at 2.4 percent.
Diclas said they would also conduct stricter monitoring of individuals, tourists, and travelers coming in and out of the province.
He said the health sector recommended the reiteration of the compliance in minimum health protocols when in public, the observance of the same during wakes, weddings, and other gatherings, and to penalize violators of heath protocols.
As of June 2, the province logged in 8,692 confirmed cases with 8,139 total recoveries, 344 active cases, and 209 total death cases.
“There’s already a decreasing trend of Covid-19 in the province and our healthcare facilities are not overfilled as compared to previous months,” he said. – Ofelia C. Empian
