JHMC, BCDA, NTF hold, set Baguio Covid-19 tests

By Zyrelle A. Del pardo 

BAGUIO CITY -- The National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19,  Bases Conversion Development Authority, John Hay Management Corp. and Bureau of Fire Protection will hold more  Covid-19 expanded testing here  through initiative of  lead chief testing czar and BCDA chairperson  Secretary Vivencio “Vince” Dizon.
       Expanded testing is crucial in searching for virus carriers and critical in interrupting transmissions. 
      Apart from contact tracing and medical intervention, this expanded testing will provide a “stronger support” to Baguio City in identifying areas with high community transmission, monitoring of health care systems, and compliance to surveillance, isolation and treatment protocols.
      Another expanded testing was held here Sept. 17, 18 and 19.
      The expanded testing is part of corporate social responsibility project of JHMC to prevent spread of Covid-19 pandemic.
JHMC is a subsidiary of the BCDA.
      Around 3,000 persons from high risk sectors were tested for Covid-19 Sept. 17 to 19.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong bared this saying the city was finding ways to locate more virus carriers, and administer control measures to contain transmission.
      Magalong said around 2,000 persons in the city and 1,000 others in the neighboring LISTT (La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay) from different sectors susceptible to the virus will be targeted for the second round expanded testing sponsored by the BCDA
      He thanked BCDA president Dizon for the program in collaboration with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC).
Baguio’s schedule was Sept. 17 and 19 with 1,000 persons tested a day, while testing in LISTT was on Sept. 18.
    After the first round of tests conducted last August 30, Magalong requested the BCDA to include the LISTT areas in the program given that their residents also go in and out of the city, and that they have socio-economic inter linkages with the city.
    The BCDA said the first activity administered reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), or swab tests, to a total of 824 persons from high risk sectors.