Capiz acquires COVID-19 lab

By Felipe V. Celino 

 

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – The containerized RT-PCR laboratory for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) of the Capiz provincial government will be operational soon.

Governor Esteban Contreras said the laboratory was delivered to the province on Oct 19, 2020.

The laboratory is stationed inside the premises of the Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital (RMPH) in Barangay Lanot here.

Department of Health (DOH 6) Regional Director Dr. Marlyn Convocar and Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) VI Regional Director Jose Roberto Nuñez, who were among the guests during the blessing and inauguration of Roxas City’s laboratory, passed by RMPH in Brgy. Lanot and saw the facilities.

Contreras said that once the installation is completed, the laboratory will be inspected by the Department of Health (DOH).

The governor is hopeful that the province’s COVID-19 laboratory will be granted with license to operate immediately once all the requirements are met.

He also believes that this could help the province a lot in terms of combating the viral infection.

With their own laboratory, Contreras said the results of swab tests will be released immediately which will help in averting local transmission in the province.

Once operational, services of the laboratory will be free for Capiznons, except for the companies or individuals who need to have an RT-PCR test for personal use or as job requirement.

Convocar told the governor that she will look for the budget to finish the 5-storey RMPH building where the laboratory facility is located.

She said that the building, which has 300-bed capacity, is very important to the people of Capiz.

The project was started during the term of former governor Victor Tanco Sr. and later Gov. Antonio Del Rosario.