THE Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Sunday reported that it has exceeded 3 million swab and saliva RT-PCR tests nationwide.
PRC Chairman and CEO Sen. Richard Gordon said this was achieved only three months after PRC hit the 2-million milestone in February 2021. A total of 3,010,432 tests were done as of 9 a.m. of May 23.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) recorded 3,083 additional Covid-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 1,179,812.
“We at the Red Cross continue to remain diligent against this invisible enemy, by testing 24 percent of the country’s nationwide output and even accounting for 40 percent of total tests conducted during the recent surge,” Gordon said adding, “If we did not go into testing, 250,000 Covid-19 positive cases would have gone undetected and unknowingly spread the virus.”
PRC constructed its first molecular laboratory for Covid-19 RT-PCR testing in its National Headquarters in just 14 days to support the government’s efforts to stem the advance of the virus.
It was accredited by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) on April 14, 2020, only a month after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the virus a global pandemic.
This was quickly followed by the establishments of laboratories in the PRC Logistics and Multipurpose Center and the PRC Port Area, the latter being the single biggest molecular laboratory in the country with more than a million tests conducted.
To date, the PRC runs 13 molecular laboratories nationwide, processing one out of four Filipinos tested.
“The country’s battle against Covid-19 is far from over, and the Red Cross will continue to improve and innovate to reinforce our defense against the virus,” Gordon said.
Under his leadership, the PRC introduced the saliva RT-PCR testing in the country in January 2021.
The faster, cheaper, and non-invasive alternative to nose and throat swabbing is also being rolled out to different shopping centers such as SM Supermalls, Robinsons, Araneta City, and Ayala Malls, making the standard of Covid-19 testing more available and accessible.
The humanitarian organization is also mobilizing its 103 chapters nationwide to augment the national government’s Covid-19 vaccination efforts. It is currently seeking accreditation for its Bakuna Centers from the Department of Health, as well as training volunteer doctors, nurses, and staff to administer the vaccines to the general public.
“Our Red Cross staff and volunteers detect the virus, take care of the Covid-19 positive individuals in isolation and the families they would leave behind, and treat those who need immediate care in our field hospitals. Truly, we are tireless humanitarian workers who always look for avenues to help alleviate the suffering of humanity,” Gordon stated.
Low case numbers
The DOH said the relatively low number of new cases recorded on Sunday was due to the simultaneous updates being made in the COVIDKaya.
Some case data from the Covid-19 Document Repository System (CDRS) were not included in the COVIDKaya and were not included in this case bulletin.
“This issue is currently being investigated and addressed by the COVIDKaya technical team,” the DOH assured the public.
The DOH also recorded 6,756 recoveries and 38 deaths. Of the total number of cases, 4.3 percent (50,635) are active cases, 94.0 percent (1,109,226) have recovered, 1.69 percent (19,951) have died.
In addition, 1,478 cases were deactivated after being tagged by their RESUs/CESUs as being duplicates. At least 25 cases previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation.
All laboratories were operational on May 21, 2021 while three were not able to submit their data to the CDRS.
Based on data in the last 14 days, the 3 non-reporting labs contribute, on average, 4.1 percent of samples tested and 2.6 percent of positive individuals.