Employees of the RLMMC go through dry-run testing in preparation for the actual mass testing set to start April 29.
ANGELES CITY – The local government here will start the Covid-19 mass testing on April 29 using the Food and Drug Administration–approved rapid testing kits.
This was announced by Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. in a meeting last Thursday with the cityhealth officer Dr. Lenario Santos, rural health physician Dr. Verona Guevarra, Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center (RLMMC) OIC Dr. Froilan Santos, and the mayor’s chief adviser Director IC Calaguas.
Based on the guidelines of the Department of Health on expanded testing coverage, individuals who are at risk, such as suspected cases, individual with relevant history of travel and exposure, and health workers with possible exposure maybe tested.
Lazatin has appropriated a total of P88 million for procurement of 30,000 rapid testing kits, procurement of four units of ventilators, cardiac monitors, additional personal protective equipment, and face masks for the RLMMC.
RLMMC, the former Ospital ning Angeles, was designated by the city government as its Covid-19 center.
Lazatin also appropriated P2 million for the Philippine Red Cross to secure slots for Angeles City residents’ Polymerase Chain Reaction testing.
As per the guidelines released by the city government, patients will need to be assessed first in the triage area at the RLMMC to determine under which subgroup the patient belongs. The testing center shall refer to the sub-groups of at-risk individuals to determine who should be prioritized.
Only FDA-approved antibody test kits will be used and only medical technologists/ practitioners may prescribe and administer antibody-based tests.
Releasing and interpretation of results will be assigned to doctors in charge for Covid-19 patients.
