Before they conduct mass testing for COVID-19, health authorities will have to prioritize contact tracing first – but they may not be doing a good job of it, Sen. Panfilo Lacson reiterated Monday night.
Lacson said the Department of Health is “miserably failing” to conduct contact tracing – in contrast to what the Senate is now doing for 18 employees and staff who tested positive.
“That is why I have always insisted, like a broken record, that massive tests using contact tracing as the baseline data or reference on who to test must be done soon. Otherwise, we will be like shooting at the moon, or running around like headless chickens,” he said in a text message to reporters.
On Monday, at least 18 Senate employees and staff tested positive for COVID-19. Lacson said the Senate is now contacting the families of the 18.
For now, he said the employees and staff will still have to practice physical distancing, as if they have not been tested by the rapid test kits.
On the other hand, Lacson noted mass testing can be accomplished only by using rapid test kits.
He said that while PCR-based tests are considered more reliable, they are expensive at P3,500 each.
Also, he noted some government hospitals have backlogs running to the tens of thousands.
Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)
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