COVID-19 testing widened further for economy's reopening –Vergeire

The Department of Health has expanded the testing guidelines for COVID-19, now including teachers, as well as workers in tourism, transportation, manufacturing sectors, among other related industries.

In a press conference on Wednesday, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergiere said the new guidelines have been already signed by Secretary Francisco Duque III.

“[Na]-expand pa further [ang ating] guidelines, including the expansion of sub-groups to be tested,” Vergeire said, adding that the expansion is in light of the gradual reopening of the economy.

Under the new guidelines, Vergeire said COVID-19 testing will be offered to the following groups:

• frontliners in tourist zones
• workers in manufacturing companies and public service providers
• employees in economic zones
• drivers, ‘’konduktor,” pilots, flight attendants
• waiters, restaurant managers
• bank tellers
• cashiers, clerk, messengers, security guard, among others

Aside from the said groups, Vergeire added that they will also include residents in areas with reported clustering of COVID-19 cases.

On Tuesday, the government's COVID-19 testing czar Vince Dizon said the number of tests done has reached 1 million, but this is still not enough.

“As of today (Wednesday) we hit 1 million,” Dizon said in a press conference in Taguig City. “Pero, still it's not enough. It's just a start. It's reflective of the challenges we face in the first couple of months.”

He said they had sought to reach a million tests by July, as it targets 10 million tests in 10 months. With a target of 30,000 tests daily, the government had reached already 25,000 tests a day on July 9. —LBG, GMA News