City health personnel conduct rapid tests. Screengrab from CITO
CABANATUAN CITY – The city government on Thursday launched a massive rapid anti-body testing in its 89 villages as a pro-active measure against the coronavirus disease pandemic.
Eugene Mintu, head of the city risk reduction and management office said residents who tested positive in the anti-body tests were immediately subjected to swabbing.
“Huwag po kayong matakot dahil kahit yung nag-swab ay hindi pa naman automatic na Covid-19 positive,” Mintu explained even as he advised those who turned positive to stay home.
Called Expanded Targeted Testing, the program being implemented upon the directive of Mayor Myca Elizabeth Vergara, picks “high risk and vulnerable” members of each family in the city who were identified through a community-based monitoring system.
The CDRRMO spearheads the program in coordination with the city health office, MV Gallego-Cabanatuan City General Hospital, city planning and development office, and community affairs office.
Prior to testing, “candidates” were issued forms with unique bar codes.
Three ambulances, 40 nurses and medical technicians, 10 encoders, several doctors and 10 makeshift facilities were mobilized for the testing which are conducted in villages, according to the city information and tourism office.
Only patients who tested positive to RT -PCR, which result may come in about three days, may be brought to quarantine facilities if needed, Mintu said.
The city government will shoulder food supplies and quarantine or isolation of anyone who would turn positive of the dreaded virus. If the residence will not be conducive for quarantine for being crowded, the patient will be brought to any of the hotels or motels that partnered with the city government, he added.
All persons who joined the testing were given a 10-kilogram bag of rice.
