LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The municipal government is still awaiting the final schedule for the community testing spearheaded by the State-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) following the date was reset o because of conflict in the schedules of the anti-Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) response activities in the municipality.
Mayor Romeo K. Salda stated that the identified vulnerable sectors that committed 10 percent of their work force who will be tested in the community testing are now awaiting the definite schedule to help the approximate percentage of their work force who are infected for interventions will be given to those who will test positive including the required isolation in the various health and isolation facilities in the locality.
Earlier, the aggressive community mass testing in the municipality was scheduled last March 18-19, 2021 but this was moved back due to a conflict with the previously scheduled vaccination simulation.
Further, the same was scheduled last April 15, 2021 but it was decided that it be again re-scheduled as it was also in conflict with the ongoing vaccination of the priority sectors.
However, Mayor Salda disclosed that the municipality, in coordination with the health department, is conducting some 200 tests daily for close contacts of individuals that tested positive for the virus who have been traced, as one of the strategic measures to contain the continuous surge in the number of COVID cases in the municipality.
According to him, the additional reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) machine that was recently turned over by Benguet Caretaker Congressman and Anti-Crime and Terrorism through Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Party-list Rep. Eric Yap to the Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) molecular laboratory will definitely help in speeding up the turnaround time in the release of swab test results so that those who tested positive will already be isolated to prevent them from further transmitting the virus to their family members, relatives, friends and acquaintances.
The municipal chief executive underscored that the timely release of swab test results of individuals who already underwent the aforesaid test will definitely help the government address the congestions in the various health facilities and isolation units and prevent the community transmission of the virus since appropriate interventions will already be put in place once such swab test results are released the soonest.
He urged the members of the vulnerable sectors in the municipality who received the request from the municipal government to identify the 10 percent of their work force who will be tested during the upcoming community testing to patiently await the decision of concerned authorities on the next date.
The mayor emphasized that the municipal government is supportive of the conduct of mass testing in the municipality contrary to reports that local officials do not want such activity because it will result to increased cases. By HENT
