Flights and sea trips to Bohol would be possible only if there is a testing system in place to be administered to passengers for Covid-19 infection.
The governor gave the statement on Friday (June 5, 2020) saying the province is not yet ready to accept visitors as Bohol is yet to have its own molecular laboratory, and thus, the province is still unable to conduct tests without relying on Cebu.
Currently, all swab samples for the RT- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test are being sent to a sub-national laboratory located at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.
“Since we don’t have PCR laboratories then we cannot accept them (referring to the passengers),” Yap said.
Even with the testing facilities, strict health standards will be put in place including a five-day quarantine for passengers arriving in Bohol, the governor added.
Just this week, at least two airline companies announced the return of some flights, but later cancelled after failing to get the nod of the proper authorities.
The provincial government has been open in announcing its plan to have a molecular lab that will be hosted by the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH).
At the same time, Yap has been vocal in the plan for additional labs to be placed at entry and exit points in the province to speed up the testing for Covid infection, not just among the locals, but for the visitors as well.
In earlier pronouncements, the govemor hinted about four laboratories that will be established in the province including one that will be stationed at the Bohol Panglao International Airport (BPIA).
Presently, Bohol has one PCR machine that was given by the national government Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) chief implementor Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. who brought the machine to Bohol in a visit a few weeks back.
It can be recalled that two medical technologists were sent to Cebu to train on the operation of the molecular lab.
But, the two medical technologists were infected with Covid, and are negative of any Covid virus per repeat PCR test.