Tag: PCR

Thailand reimposes quarantine for travellers to halt Omicron spread

Thailand reimposed mandatory coronavirus quarantine measures for foreign tourists on Tuesday, nixing a quarantine-free travel scheme as the kingdom seeks to stifle the spread of the Omicron variant. The pandemic has clobbered the country’s tourism-dominated economy, which last year experienced its worst performance since the 1997 Asian financial crisis. In early November Thailand reopened to fully vaccinated travellers — who had to isolate for a night until they received a negative PCR test — from […]

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Malacanang announces cheaper COVID-19 swab tests in 15 sites nationwide

  (Eagle News) — Malacanang annonced that cheaper swab testing can now be availed of in 15 automated PCR testing centers in select hospitals nationwide. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that the cheaper swab tests would costs from P1,700 to P2,000 as the machines for COVID-19 PCR tests in these facilities have been donated. The following PCR Testing Centers in Metro Manila include Philippine Children Medical Center, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, Jose B. […]

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PHL gov’t expands COVID-19 targeted mass testing to include asymptomatics, other frontliners

Palace says 10 million PCR testing kits to be utilized   (Eagle News) – The Philippine government has approved plans to expand targeted mass testing for COVID-19 to include even asymptomatic individuals, health care workers and other frontliners such as members of the mass media with no symptoms. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said this in Laging Handa press briefing on Friday where he announced the latest developments from the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious […]

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DOH reports 34 certified COVID-19 labs; PNP Crime lab among 20 certified labs in NCR

(Eagle News) – There are now 34 laboratories which have been certified by the Department of Health for COVID-19 PCR testing, including the Philippine National Police’s own certified laboratory, while eight more have been licensed as GeneXpert laboratories. The PNP Crime Laboratory recently passed the stringent validation process of the DOH, and is now part of the 20 certified COVID-19 laboratories in Meto Manila. As of May 25, the PNP reported a total of 278 […]

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PHL gov’t targets setting up 78 COVID-19 labs, to do 30k tests per day by end of May

  (Eagle News) – The Philippines hopes to conduct 30,000 COVID-19 tests a day by the end of May as government officials pushed for a “test,test,test (T3) approach to beat the virus. Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) president Vince Dizon, the deputy chief implementer of the National Action Policy (NAP) against COVID-19, said that they also hope to set up a total of 78 laboratories by May 30. Presently, there are 20 laboratories which had […]

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FDA approves 16 rapid antibody test kits for commercial use

(Eagle News) – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the commercial use of 16 rapid antibody test kits, amid efforts to expand testing for COVID-19. In an advisory issued on Saturday, April 18, the FDA said that the approved test kits “have have completed necessary documentary requirements and have undergone review and evaluation”. The FDA explained that the rapid test kits “detect the presence of antibodies in an individual’s blood or serum”, specifically […]

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DOH: Don’t be alarmed as cases spike with start of expanded COVID-19 testing on April 14

  (Eagle News) – The Department of Health (DOH) advised the public not to be alarmed or worried with the expected spike in COVID-19 cases as it starts its expanded mass testing for COVID-19 on Tuesday, April 14. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that about 300 medical technologists, molecular biologists, lab technicians, and researchers from the University of the Philippines’ National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology will be strategical deployed to supplement the […]

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