The Philippines tested less than 6,000 samples for the new coronavirus on Monday, when Malacañang said the daily testing capacity had reached 32,000 on May 20.
READ: Palace claims PH meets goal of 30,000 daily testing capacity
According to Department of Health data analyzed by the ABS-CBN Data Analytics Team, the samples tested on Sunday reached only 6,016, and on Monday only 5,914. On May 14, the number of tests conducted reached 11,123.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire blamed supply shortages, damaged equipment and limited operating hours, prompting her department to require laboratories to run seven days a week.
“We had a meeting with all of our laboratories yesterday because we were seeing a downward trend,” Vergeire said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on Wednesday.
“One of the main issues again would be the supply,” Vergeire said, adding her department was already helping the laboratories source the supplies needed.
Contributing to the declining COVID-19 testing was the damaged exhaust system of the University of the Philippines National Institutes of Health that affected its operations.
Vergeire also said the heavy rain last week caused problems for the Philippine Red Cross’ testing operations.
READ: Mass testing: Private initiatives, not government
“And then, we have eight private laboratories that do not operate during Sunday. Health Secretary Francisco Duque already gave instructions last night that all laboratories are not allowed to have a one day off for their operations.”
The Philippine government had promised to reach 30,000 actual tests a day by the end of May.
Mark surpassed
The Department of Health on Wednesday breached the 15,000 mark for reported coronavirus infections as it recorded 15,049 as the total number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines.
As of 4 p.m., the department logged 380 new cases with 94 new recoveries, bringing to 3,506 the new coronavirus patients treated. The death toll has reached 904 with 18 new deaths.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque said he was giving priority to the safety of students and supporting the call to suspend face-to-face classes.
Three-month extension
Malacañang said Wednesday a three-month extension of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act giving President Rodrigo Duterte additional powers would be “ideal” to sustain the government’s efforts to contain the COVID 19 pandemic.
READ: ‘Quarantine eased in June’
“I think it is necessary to give us at least 90 days and we’ll see from there if, at the end of 90 days, there’s a need for emergency powers still. Then it can be extended until December,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said.
Republic Act 11469 was signed by the President on March 24 and will be in effect only for three months unless extended by Congress.
More tracers needed
The Philippines needs 95,000 more contact tracers to boost its response to the coronavirus pandemic, the DOH said Wednesday.
The country only has some 38,000 contact tracers—far from the 126,000 benchmark to meet the World Health Organization's standard for the Philippines to have one contact tracer for every 800 people, Health Undersecretary Vergeire said.
"We will ask the help of local government units for the hiring of 95,000 more contact tracers,” Vergeire said.
Contact tracing is usually initiated after COVID-19 test results are confirmed and sent to local epidemiology offices, a process that takes 13 days from the time the patient goes to a hospital.
Drug use continues
The Philippines will continue administering the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to those COVID-19 patients who are already on this treatment, Vergeire said Wednesday.
She made the clarification in light of the WHO announcement it is suspending administering hydroxychloroquine as treatment to COVID-19 patients on clinical trial since a safety review is underway.
Patients given the medicine on clinical trial are on voluntary participation.
The hydroxychloroquine has been given to COVID-19 patients in the country since the Philippines is part of the WHO solidarity trial in finding treatment for the coronavirus.
Reaffirmation
The chairman of the House of Representatives' Committee on Health on Wednesday reaffirmed her stand on mandatory immunization amid the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent future outbreaks.
Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan cited the importance of pursuing the government’s immunization program even during the community quarantine as a way to ensure that children were protected from future pandemics.
“We have several initiatives in Congress in relation to the country’s immunization program,” Tan said.
161 test positive
The Department of Justice said Wednesday 161 people deprived of liberty had tested positive for coronavirus as of May 25.
Citing the latest report made by the Bureau of Corrections, Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said the number of COVID-19 cases among PDLs went up by 44 from 117 two weeks ago, while six PDLs had died due to complications arising from the COVID-19.
Perete said eight PDLs had already recovered.
Legal protection
Senator Imee Marcos has called for clearer legal protection for health-care workers who may be falsely accused of malpractice—even as they risked their lives to fight COVID-19.
Such legal and personal risks would increase, Marcos said, as the lockdown restrictions to control the spread of the pandemic were expected to ease further at the end of May.
“Come June, we will be entering new territory in the progress of this pandemic. The unanimous clamor of Metro Manila mayors for a milder community quarantine comes as the country registered its highest number of COVID-19 cases yesterday,” Marcos said.
Call repeated
The group Filipino Nurses United on Wednesday reiterated its call for the immediate resignation or firing of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.
“The Department of Health should be a major player if not the leader in this COVID 19 health crisis we have been experiencing,” the group said in a statement.
“After more than two months, how would you rate the department, especially the Secretary? How would you rate the performance of its duties and obligations to nurses, other health workers, and especially to the majority of the poor people? Would you agree to replace him?” FNU said.
