667 0f 4,000 tested positive in Manila drive-thru testing

As of July 23, 667 tested positive for #COVID19 out of the 4,000 that have gone through the drive-thru free COVID-19 testing in Manila, Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso said. Those who tested positive represents 16.7% of their tests so far.

Manila’s first drive-thru test center in front of the Bonifacio Shrine near the Manila City Hall. Was launched on July 15. The second drive-thru center is in Quirino Grandstand. Operations of the drive-thru centers are from Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Domagoso said more than 80% of those who availed of the testing checked “peace of mind” as reason for testing. In one of the Manila Public Information Office’s posts, those who said they were exposed to a COVID-19 patient is around 7% and those who answered they were experiencing COVID-19 symptoms were 2%.

The serology tests were a way to find out the spread of COVID-19, but not to replace the RT-PCR which is considered the ‘gold standard,’ clarified Domagoso.

The first of two walk-in test sites launched on July 20 is located beside the Ospital ng Sampaloc at Gen. Geronimo Street in Sampaloc. The second one, opened on July 24, is at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center at Delpan Street in Tondo. People line up as early as 5am to get tested.

The walk-in test sites, said Domagoso, is part of the city’s “community-based mass testing” initiative.

“This walk-in concept is a concept wherein people should not be afraid anymore to go to the hospital because we all know hospitals have COVID-19 patients. Hindi kailangan tumaas ang [There is no need to increase the] high probability of being exposed, kaya [that’s why] we made it adjacent to the hospital,” he said on the opening of the walk-in test site beside the Ospital ng Sampaloc on July 20.

The testing site is capable of conducting 150 tests per day, but the mayor said the city government is striving to accommodate more patients through purchase of more reagents.

The local government unit targets more COVID-19 test sites at the Ospital ng Tondo, Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital and Ospital ng Maynila.

Around 2,000 have availed of the walk-in testing so far.

Up to present, the city has spent less than P 4 million pesos on the free mass testing program and the local government unit is calling for donations so they can continue and increase the number of tests.

At these centers, blood samples taken from patients will be processed using the COVID-19 serology testing machines from American healthcare firm Abbott. Results are targeted to be released via text message within 24 hours.

The mayor said allowing non-residents of the city to avail of the free testing is part of the city’s “inclusive approach” to solving COVID-19. Only a valid ID is required to get tested.

Domagoso also said the city has 12 quarantine facilities with a total bed capacity of 545 and is eyeing to open one more in Quiapo.

Manila has recorded 4,132 COVID-19 cases, among them 1,448 active cases (35%), while 2,485 have recovered and 199 died.