Over 1,000 samples taken from individuals in Central Visayas were tested for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the sub-national level laboratory in Cebu City.
“The DOH-VSMMC Subnational Laboratory (SNL) serves the Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and CARAGA regions. As of April 9, 2020, 5:00 pm, the DOH-VSMMC SNL has tested a total of 1158 samples,” said Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in its published report.
“Please take note that the results are based on TESTED SAMPLES. The DOH Regional Centers for Health Development shall issue the detailed results for POSITIVE or NEGATIVE cases,” it added.
Of the 1,158 samples taken, around 96 percent or 1,117 tested negative while 41 positive.
DOH reported a total of 36 confirmed COVID-19 cases with eight deaths, and 19 recoveries as of April 9, 2020, in Central Visayas. A total of 57 samples from the region were tested and yielded negative results.
VSMMC also serves the Northern Mindanao regions and Caraga (Region XIII). However, no samples from these Mindanao regions were tested yet as of April 9, 2020.
The hospital is one of the two sub-national laboratories scientists from the national government have certified to process COVID-19 tests in the Visayas region. It has started conducting tests on March 19, 2020.
The other testing center is the Western Visayas Medical Center based in Iloilo City.
Dr. Jaime Bernadas, director of DOH in the region (DOH – 7), said in earlier interviews that they have sufficient test kits to run COVID-19 screening daily.
Bernadas said DOH-7 has around 5,000 testing kits in possession as of April 4, 2020, and are expecting 40,000 more to be flown into Central Visayas ‘anytime soon.’
Based on the DOH central office’s data, VSMMC in Cebu can process an estimated 240 COVID-19 tests per day.
They are also eyeing to mobilize three other hospitals in Central Visayas to do COVID-19 tests. These are located in Lapu-Lapu City, Tagbilaran City in Bohol, and Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental.
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Bukidnon reports first COVID-19 case
Bukidnon province reported its first patient infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), local authorities said Thursday.
The patient was a PUI (person under investigation) in Barangay Lumbayao, Valencia City, and tested positive of the virus today.
Valencia City Mayor Azucena Huervas said the patient attended a cockfight derby at Matina Gallera in Davao City in March.