Bulacan partners with PH Red Cross for P5M COVID-19 mass testing

The provincial government of Bulacan is set to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Red Cross for the procurement of 1,428 swab test kits worth P5 million to conduct mass testing for suspected COVID-19 cases in the province.

Governor Daniel R. Fernando emphasized the urgency of the situation, aiming to have testing and control measures in place before May 15.

Results from the swab tests, to be processed at the PRC Molecular Laboratory in Mandaluyong, are expected to be available within 48 hours.

The newly constructed three-storey building of the Bulacan Medical Center, designated as the Provincial COVID-19 Center, will commence operations on May 1.

Some rooms in the COVID-19 facility will be dedicated to Bulacan's health workers to provide them with utmost care due to their exposure risks.

The Incident Management Team has been tasked with the accurate identification of COVID-19 positive patients within the province to ensure proper data attribution, as some cases previously attributed to Bulacan were found to be residents of other areas.

Bulacan will require returning Overseas Filipino Workers from the province to undergo an additional 14-day quarantine in any provincial, city, or municipal quarantine facility.

A proposal has been made to exclude violators of the Enhanced Community Quarantine, particularly those involved in gambling, drinking, and drug-related offenses, from receiving Social Amelioration Program benefits.

As of April 29, 2020, Bulacan has a total of 114 confirmed positive cases, 19 recoveries, and 24 deaths.