The Department of Health has revealed that about 125,000 test kits for the coronavirus disease or COVID-19 will arrive in the country this weekend from South Korea and China.
The limitation on testing kits has forced the country to reserve the kits only to those who are vulnerable and symptomatic patients.
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“Tinututukan ko iyong mga test kits kasi may parating na 25,000 from South Korea saka 100,000 from China, tomorrow at 5 a.m.,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque told ABS-CBN News.
“Tinututukan ko na iyong Bureau of Customs at FDA (Food and Drug Administration) ay bilisan ang release kasi nga iyon ang number one nating kakulangan,” he added.
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Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said that China has donated the test kits while it’s unclear if South Korea also donated the kits.
The FDA said Thursday it had approved the sale of COVID-19 test kits from South Korea and China. The locally made COVID-19 kits are still in validation phase and could be available after 2-3 weeks.
