Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso bared Saturday night that the city government is already building its own coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing laboratory.
In a “situation report” he delivered through his Facebook page, Moreno said that this is part of the “long-term” plan that is being taken by the local officials as they strengthen their efforts to stem the outbreak in the city.
As of press time, Manila has already had 997 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 89 deaths and 163 recoveries.
“Habang tayo ay nakikipag-partner sa national government, sa mga private sectors, medical institutions, tayo rin ay magtatayo ng sariling testing laboratory na ilalagak sa [second floor ng] Santa Ana Hospital ,” he said.
He added that the local government will also purchase eight mobile digital X-ray machines dedicated for COVID-19 patients, which will complement the two already existing analog X-ray machines of the city.
“Bakit po walo? Anim lang ang ating hospital? Para po ‘yung dalawa, atin pong pang-abang… Ayaw ko, in the middle of everything, masira ‘yung machine, wala tayong extra. I really wanted to prepare our city, to empower our medical institutions and front liners in our health sector,” the mayor said.
Moreno explained that he preferred buying portable machines to be able to attend to COVID-19 patients, who are undergoing X-ray examinations, inside their own rooms.
“[Ito ay] bilang paghahanda ng inyong pamahalaang lungsod sa mga darating na buwan ng buhay natin na kabahagi natin si COVID-19,” he said.
The local chief executive also announced that the Manila government has already adopted the use of StaySafe.ph mobile application, which will allow the residents to report their health condition and facilitate the government in contact tracing.
“Dito po palalakasin natin ang ating contact tracing, health condition reporting and social distancing,” Moreno said.
Through visiting the website manila.staysafe.ph, Manila residents can download the application and register themselves and their families to know their risk of exposure.
They will also become updated about the COVID-19 situation in the city through informing them of nearby areas with positive patients.
“Pwede nyong i-report ‘yung oras-oras nyong nararamdaman… para nang sa ganoon, malalaman ng pamahalaan kung ano ang iyong katayuan sa iyong kalusugan at pwede mo isama ang iyong pamilya,” Moreno said.
Moreno also bared that some 607,586 families will once again receive P1,000 cash aid from the local government in the second tranche of financial assistance for those financially affected by the crisis. (Joseph Pedrajas)
