Philippine News Agency
Underreporting of Covid-19 cases due to lack of testing kits: DOH
The Department of Health (DOH) acknowledges the possibility of underreporting COVID-19 cases due to a limited supply of testing kits.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III stated that the DOH will broaden testing coverage once additional supplies are received.
The Philippines currently has a testing capacity of about 4,500 individual testing kits, according to Secretary Duque.
This limitation necessitates a prudent approach to testing, prioritizing those with symptoms and a history of travel or exposure, according to Secretary Duque.
Senators have expressed concern over the scarcity of testing kits.
The Philippines reported 10 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing the total to 20.
Senator Panfilo Lacson initially raised the concern of unintentional underreporting of cases.
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The Philippines has only 2,000 available COVID-19 testing kits, as revealed by Dr. Rosanna Ditangco of the Research Institute on Tropical Medicine (RITM) during a Senate inquiry.
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Health Secretary Francisco Duque III stated that the Department of Health (DOH) is not yet ready to use rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for COVID-19 due to concerns about their accuracy and potential for false negatives.
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The Office of the President is prepared to fund the intensified production of COVID-19 test kits.
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The Department of Health (DOH) has denied allegations of withholding information regarding COVID-19 cases from the public, asserting their transparency since the outbreak began.
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The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed 52 COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, including three new cases announced on Thursday, March 12.
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