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DOST starts distribution of specimen collection booths

MANILA – A total of PHP19.7 million was allotted for the production of 132 specimen collection booths (SCB) to be delivered to various hospitals across the country and select Department of Health (DOH) Center for Health Development offices, an official of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) said Monday.

In an online interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA), PCIEERD executive director Enrico Paringit said the funding for the production of 132 units came from the DOST and that the agency targets to distribute the SCBs before the end of April.

"Since Friday, we have four units distributed to the RITM (Research Institute for Tropical Medicine), PGH (Philippine General Hospital), Lung Center, and JRNMH (Jose N. Rodriguez National Memorial Hospital) to study whether these prototypes follow the safety protocols of doctors with regard to getting specimen for Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). Testing these four prototypes will end on April 20, then we will start on distributing the SCBs to other hospitals listed by the DOH," he said.

The DOH has tapped the DOST for the production of the SCBs.

According to Paringit, the design of the local SCB was based on the designs of testing booths in other countries.

With the DOST's design, both the medical personnel and the patient would be seated.

The design was modified to ensure the safety of both the medical personnel and the patient, he added.

The booth has an ample ventilation and air-conditioner so that the medical personnel would be comfortable.

It has a pressure sensor that would alert the medical personnel in case the door was not properly closed, or if there is air from the outside is coming in.

There are disposable gloves that could be worn on the SCB's main gloves. Disinfection sprays are available in the seats.

Further, the SCB has a thermal scanner to record the temperature readings of the patients.

The thermal scanner, Paringit said, was developed by the Futuristic Aviation and Maritime Enterprise (FAME), DOST's partner in developing the SCBs.

"The SCB's design will be provided by FAME for free to fabricators who would like to help producing SCBs for other areas where needed," Paringit said.

Anyone interested with the SCB's design may coordinate with the DOST, he added. (PNA)

DOH directed to finalize guidelines on rapid test kits

The Department of Health (DOH) has been directed to finalize guidelines for the supplementary use of rapid antibody test kits approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases reported.

In his Thursday briefing, Cabinet Secretary and IATF spokesman Karlo Nograles said the DOH, together with its technical advisory group), was told to finalize the said guidelines pursuant to the directive of President Duterte.

President Duterte on Monday ordered the purchase of rapid test kits to increase the country’s testing capacity for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) despite the lack of guidelines on the use of the said kits.

“I’m clearing the way, I will ask [Health] Secretary [Francisco] Duque to talk to the people in charge and they can proceed to buy it immediately. As fast as you can really do the procurement at this time,” he said.

“You can go ahead and buy it immediately, you have my clearance,” he added.

Malacañang confirmed Wednesday that those seeking an audience with President Duterte in the Palace are required to undergo a rapid test. They will not be allowed to enter Malacañang if they test positive for the disease.

The chief implementer of the country’s action plan against COVID-19, Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. earlier said that the government will still purchase at least 900,000 more polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based tests to confirm the validity of results gained from the use of rapid test kits.

The DOH earlier thumbed down the use of rapid test kits, saying these were not accurate enough to check for COVID-19 as these can produce false results.

To date, the DOH reported 5,453 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 349 of whom died while 353 recovered.

Presently, the country has 16 laboratories certified by the DOH to conduct real-time RT-PCR for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Nograles said the IATF has adopted an updated nomenclature in classifying individuals for the surveillance and management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patients under Investigation (PUI) with mild, severe, or critical symptoms whose results have not yet been released shall be designated as ‘suspect’ cases. PUI with inconclusive test results shall be classified as ‘probable’ cases.

Persons under Monitoring (PUM), on the other hand, shall still be referred to as PUM, and shall still be reported and managed accordingly.

Published April 16, 2020, 3:52 PM

By Argyll Cyrus Geducos (Manila Bulletin)

DOH: PH now has 5,660 confirmed COVID-19 cases

The Philippines now has 5,660 confirmed COVID-19 cases, the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Thursday.

The total number of confirmed cases was boosted after 207 new patients were recorded as of 4 p.m. of Thursday, the DOH said.

The latest case bulletin also bared that 82 more patients have recovered from the disease, raising the total of recoveries to 435.

However, 13 more patients passed away, bringing the death toll to 362.

Other essential health services must continue

The Health department also reminded medical facilities to continue providing other essential health services amid the COVID-19 crisis.

“Health facilities, such as rural/city health centers, satellite health centers, birthing centers, treatment hubs, and infirmaries providing essential health services must remain open despite the enhanced community quarantine,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing on Wednesday.

Vergeire cited DOH Department Circular No. 2020-0167 that states hospitals and other medical facilities should continue to give essential health services despite the pandemic.

“Naiintindihan po namin na mahirap ang ating sitwasyon ng COVID-19 para sa ating mamamayan, mga frontline health workers, at lokal na pamahalaan. Ngunit ngayon mas kinakailangan ng ating kapwa Pilipino ang ating atensyon at serbisyo sa kanilang mga medikal na pangangailangan,” she said.

(We understand that our COVID-19 situation is difficult for our people, frontline health workers, and local governments. But now our fellow Filipinos need more attention and service for their medical needs.)

Amid the enhanced community quarantine, Vergeire said the public should coordinate with their respective local government authorities in case they need to visit a hospital.

“Makipag-ugnayan sa ating pamahalaang lokal sa kanilang mga alituntunin sa pagkuha ng quarantine pass upang makalabas at makapunta tayo sa mga health facilities kung nangangailangan ng mga serbisyong medikal,” she said.

Published April 16, 2020, 5:12 PM

By Analou De Vera (Manila Bulletin)