The city government of Dagupan will start on Friday the free antibody rapid test for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) to high-risk industry workers.
In a statement posted Thursday by the city’s Public Information Office on Facebook, Mayor Marc Brian Lim said the city will conduct the expanded testing so it can assess more accurately the extent of Covid-19 infection here and immediately isolate and treat those who are found positive.
The city government targets to test some 2,000 high-risk workers, including market vendors and tricycle operators and drivers, delivery service providers, boatmen, security guards, fire brigade volunteers, food establishment operators, grocery and supermarket personnel, banks and other vulnerable industries.
“Test kits are limited and the industries to be tested are based on the definition of high risk,” Lim said.
He added those who will test positive for Covid-19 will be immediately swabbed for confirmatory tests using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), which will be processed by the Philippine Red Cross.
Meanwhile, as of June 3, over 1,150 front-liners in the city were tested using RT-PCR under the risk-based targeted mass testing through the city and the PRC’s partnership.
Of the total number of tested front-liners, 14 have tested positive although they were not showing any symptoms.
They are now admitted to the Region 1 Medical Center and the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital. (PNA)
Photo Source: Facebook/DagupanPIO