The City of Baguio is maintaining risk-based reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) examination and rapid diagnostic testing (RDT) among residents considered most likely to catch the Covid-19, subject to availability of test kits.
This is in the heels of a surge in local infections last week.
City Health Services Office (CHSO) Head Rowena Galpo said in a proactive move to identify and isolate SARS-Cov-2 carriers even before they mingle with a greater number of people, Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong ordered the office to administer random tests on over 10 percent of persons who are considered “at risk.”
Those considered at risk are health workers, drivers of public conveyances; trunkline barkers; market vendors; meat dealers; butchers; barangay, public officers, and employees; senior citizens; persons deprived of liberty; truck drivers and their helpers; food handlers; delivery workers; and balut vendors, among others.
Based on CHSO data, the city has tested 14,543 as of June 24. Of the total, 8,471 are RT-PCR tests which are Covid-19 confirmatory tests and 5,211 are RDTs.
RDTs are not confirmatory but are used as basis in identifying and isolating those who are probably infected by the virus.
To back up the strategy, Magalong said 40,000 test kits out of the 100,000 allocated for the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center molecular laboratory had already been delivered.
BGHMC caters to the testing needs of the Cordillera and some parts of Northern Luzon.
The mayor said strategic testing and contract tracing should be sustained, adding the methods are still the city’s best weapons against the spread of the virus. – Aileen P. Refuerzo
