Surigao del Norte conducts COVID-19 rapid testing

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, May 8 (PIA) – With the continued clamor of the public for a mass testing after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hit Caraga region, Surigao del Norte Governor Francisco “Lalo” Matugas said during the Laging Hand Network Briefing on Thursday that the province has already finished conducting the initial round of rapid antibody testing.    

The rapid testing conducted on May 2 to 53 individuals reveals 51 negative results and two inconclusive results that were scheduled for repeat testing.

The summary of results for the first batch was issued by the Surigao del Norte Provincial Hospital through Dr. Chrismar Mocorro, chief of hospital. 

In accordance with the Department of Health (DOH) protocol, they are now confined in one of the provincial community quarantine facilities for a specific quarantine period before they will be allowed to go home while waiting for the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test result of the first medical frontliner who was classified as presumptive positive.

Prior to the initiated rapid testing, Dr. Mocorro had also released an official statement that in the afternoon of May 1, 2020, he was informed by one of the dedicated and service-oriented outsourced medical doctors that the result of the COVID-19 rapid antibody test was positive for lgG.

“This could mean that there was a previous infection with COVID-19 or it could mean a false positive result. This test is a standard protocol in the hospital in Butuan where the said medical doctor also works,” mentioned Dr. Mocorro.

Dr. Mocorro added that said medical doctor remains to be healthy with no symptoms the entire time and is currently on home quarantine and was scheduled for swabbing for RT-PCR test on May 4 for confirmatory testing.

"We urged the public to remain calm. Despite our strict protocol on infection control, there are things beyond our control. We remind the public to stay at home, practice physical distancing and wearing of mask, and do frequent handwashing,” said Dr. Mocorro.

Another batch of Surigaonons, will be tested in the next days. "Thus, we seek the cooperation of everyone. Please be our COVID-19 hero by just staying at home as much as possible. Report immediately to proper health authorities any symptoms felt that are COVID19-related for appropriate management and referral if needed," said Gov. Matugas.

The isolation facilities of the province are the Provincial Training Center in Sta. Cruz, Placer and Bayay Paglaum in Alegria. The barangays have also identified and designated appropriate places that serve as barangay isolation units (BIUs). Some government facilities were also converted into BIUs. (VLG/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

 

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