The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said mass testing for the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is unnecessary for now.
However, Health Undersecretary Rosette Vergeire assured that the move is part of the government’s measure to curb the spread of the virus and added that they are ready to implement it should the need arise.
“Sa ngayon po, hindi pa naman nakikitang kailangan nating gawin itong mass testing na ito,” Vergeire told reporters.
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“Pero nasa taalaan, nasa mapa, nasa radar, na kung sakaling dumating ‘yung panahon, if we have enough resources, and the government can do it, and it is already imperative for the government to do it, gagawin po natin ‘yan kung saka sakali,” she stressed.
The health official admitted that the DOH is facing challenges in terms of testing capacity and laboratory capacity, Inquirer reported.
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Despite of that, Vergeire assured that the government is maximizing the capacities of the laboratories and testing kits right now.
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said around 125,000 test kits will arrive from South Korea and China this weekend.
