The Manila City government has rolled out two mobile clinics that would test residents for COVID-19 for free to arrest the spread of the respiratory disease.
The mobile serology testing trucks, initially deployed to the Pandacan and Tondo districts, can screen 100 blood samples a day, said the Manila Public Information Office.
The mobile clinics will prioritize areas with the highest COVID-19 tally, said Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso.
"This is the start of our saturation drive in the city. If they go to your place, that means your area has registered the most number of COVID. You have something to be concerned about,” Domagoso said.
The Manila government earlier launched two drive-thru and two walk-in screening centers that make use of serology tests that detect the presence of antibodies against the coronavirus in blood samples.
This type of test is more accurate than the rapid antibody screening, Domagoso earlier said.
The mayor urged his constituents to follow health protocols to contain the spread of COVID-19.
"The key to success rests with the people because the virus doesn't walk around. People walk around, people spread it. If we remember that, we will be careful,” he said.
The Philippines as of Sunday confirmed 80,448 cases of the respiratory disease, including 1,932 deaths.
University of the Philippines experts earlier predicted that the country’s COVID-19 tally would hit 80,000 to 85,000 by the end of July.