Makati starts testing frontliners

MANILA, Philippines — At least 110 medical frontliners in Makati underwent testing for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) yesterday, Mayor Abby Binay said.  

Binay said personnel from the city health department tested 50 employees of the Ospital ng Makati, 39 at the Rizal Health Center and 27 at Pembo Health Center. 

Testing medical frontliners is important to make sure that they are safe and healthy, Binay said. 

“Our priority are the frontliners and residents who are PUIs (persons under investigation) and PUMs (persons under monitoring). Our frontliners are vulnerable to contracting the disease since they have direct contact with patients,” she said. 

City health department chief Bernard Sese said the swab samples would be brought to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) national headquarters in Mandaluyong for testing. The results are expected to come out in two days.

Makati earlier signed an agreement with PRC for the testing of at least 2,000 frontliners and suspected carriers of the virus.

The local government also sends specimens to the University of the Philippines National Institutes of Health in Manila. 

Makati opened yesterday three emergency quarantine facilities at the Pembo Elementary School and another one at the parking area of the Ospital ng Makati.

Each facility has 15 beds, sanitation and disinfection areas, a testing box and a lounge for nurses.

The city government will build isolation tents at the ambulance bay of the Ospital ng Makati to prevent other patients from getting infected.