The Manila City government has launched its second free drive-thru coronavirus testing center at the Quirino Grandstand for both residents and non-residents of the city, days after launching its first similar center at the Bonifacio Shrine near City Hall.
The Manila Health Department (MHD) said the city government received approval from National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) executive director Cecille Lorenzana-Romero, within 48 hours after the first drive-thru COVID-19 facility, to establish the new testing site at the Quirino Grandstand.
The NPDC manages the Rizal Park where Quirino Grandstand is located.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso led the launching along with Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna Pangan and Acting City Health Officer Dr. Arnold Pangan.
Domagoso said they designated lanes for cars, tricycles, pedicabs, motorcycles and non-motorized vehicles at the Grandstand.
Six lanes were opened for four-wheel vehicles, tricycles, pedicabs, motorcycles and bikes.
The city government launched the second testing center after an overwhelming response from citizens at its first testing center in Lawton.
The grandstand center can conduct around 700 tests at once, Domagoso said. “We also have separate lanes for four-wheeled vehicles, three-wheeled vehicles, two-wheeled, motorized and non-motorized,” he added.
“All tests are free, as they are shouldered by the city government. This is open to Manilans and non-Manilans,” Domagoso said.
Both Manila testing facilities are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays thru Fridays.
As it is based on a rapid test, medical workers take an individual’s blood instead of a nasal swab.
Domagoso said the test results were similar to RT-PCR, considered as the “gold standard” by the Department of Health.
“This is a higher level of a regular rapid testing kit done, the samples are being submitted to a machine, at the same time we avoid the possibility of a false positive and false negative,” Domagoso said.
Blood samples were taken from more than 900 individuals at the Manila COVID-19 test, with 60 positive results. Those who tested positive will get a free RT-PCR swab test, the mayor said.