BAGUIO CITY: The city government has started the rapid testing of health workers and persons under investigation (PUIs) with mild symptoms of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and who are under home quarantine. The rapid testing of PUIs began on April 4 after Mayor Benjamin Magalong gave the go-signal after a series of consultations with government health practitioners here to hasten the identification of those who are infected, and facilitate treatment, isolation and contact tracing. PUIs with mild symptoms who will test positive for Covid-19 will be subjected to polymerase chain reaction or PCR confirmatory tests, while those with negative results will be made to continue their 14-day quarantine. City health officer Dr. Rowena Galpo said all 23 PUIs tested on April 4 yielded negative results while 36 others who were checked on April 6 are awaiting results. Magalong said Baguio City had around 400 donated kits, enough to cover all 390 PUIs in home quarantine as of April 6.

Source: Manila Times April 08, 2020 16:18 UTC