Coronavirus lab up soon: Albee
Saturday, April 18, 2020
BY CARLA P. GOMEZ
Negros Occidental will soon have its own coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing laboratory operating at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, former Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez said yesterday.
Benitez, a Negros Occidental provincial government consultant, said the Department of Health has informed them that the TB testing facility at the TLJPH is capable of handling COVID-19 tests.
“We are the only ones that have a negative pressure room that can accommodate testing of even airborne viruses,” he said.
The equipment is being calibrated and they are waiting for approval from the DOH for the laboratory to start testing COVID-19 specimens, Benitez said.
“We are working hard on it,” he said, because once it is operational the province can conduct more COVID-19 tests faster.
Swab specimens of persons suspected of having COVID-19 are currently being sent to a DOH laboratory in Iloilo that conducts tests for the entire Western Visayas.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said one of the cheapest deterrent against COVID-19 is for people to always wear face masks, especially when they go out of their houses.*
@senso for A BETTER BACOLOD
Ang isa sa akon mga handom para sa Bacolod.
Ako ang kapitan sg sini nga barko. Indi ini magkadto sa wala ukon sa tuo, kundi derecho sa direksyon sang pagbag-o sang gobyerno para sa kaayuhan sang Bacolodnon.
