DOH advises Marikina on COVID-19 testing site due to biosafety concerns

The Department of Health (DOH) recommended that Marikina City's COVID-19 testing facility be located in an office with adequate space, citing biosafety risks.

Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro initially stated the DOH disapproved of their City Health Office site and suggested a new building.

Mayor Teodoro has since ordered the conversion of a building from a 'super health center' to house the testing facility, which will be 1,000 to 2,000 square meters and fully equipped.

The DOH provided Marikina with a proposed floor plan and minimum requirements for biosafety level 2 standards.

Mayor Teodoro questioned why Marikina's facility was rejected for not being isolated enough, pointing out that the DOH's own Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) is located beside administrative offices.

He argued that Marikina's current testing center location has less human traffic than the RITM.

Mayor Teodoro emphasized the urgent need for testing access for Marikina residents and urged the DOH to treat the city as a partner.