MANILA, Philippines—ACT Teachers Representative France Castro on Wednesday urged the national government to hasten mass testing for all suspected COVID-19 cases in the Philippines and that an urgent need for systematic contact tracing is also needed to stop the spread of the virus further. Mass testing began on Tuesday with high-risk patients getting prioritized, nearly a month after President Rodrigo Duterte imposed enhanced community quarantine in Luzon. ADVERTISEMENT“Conducting mass testing to all suspected COVID-19 patients and contact tracing are vital measures to control the spread of the virus according to the World Health Organization,” said Castro in a statement. “We must be able to swiftly identify and isolate suspected, probable and confirmed COVID-19 patients and inform all those who may have had contact with to also isolate and monitor their health for symptoms. Faster medical solutions, Castro said, should be a better way to fight the spread.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer April 15, 2020 11:03 UTC