Marikina mayor pushes mass testing for GCQ amid COVID-19

Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro emphasized the need to balance biosafety concerns with economic activity as the city prepares for the General Community Quarantine (GCQ).

He stated that mass testing is a necessary and worthwhile investment for public health to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marikina City has begun mass testing for returning workers, including tricycle drivers, shoe industry workers, and manufacturing factory employees, using both rapid and PCR tests.

As of May 27, four out of 5,465 tricycle drivers tested positive via rapid testing, and one shoe industry worker and one barangay employee also tested positive.

Frontline city government employees and barangay workers have also undergone rapid testing, with six city government employees testing positive.

The mayor clarified that testing is not mandatory for returning to work but is part of the city's strategy to combat the virus.

Individuals who test positive will be moved to quarantine facilities for isolation and treatment.

The mayor also announced plans for regular targeted mass testing and "random testing by sampling" or surveillance testing to determine if certain areas are COVID-free.