Gov. Arthur Yap reports that the containerized polymerase chain reaction (PCR) laboratory is arriving within this month and this will give the province the ability to process swab samples thereby lessening its dependence on Cebu for the said testing capacity.
Gov. Yap, during the regular press briefing on Friday, July 3, 2020, mentioned that the containerized PCR lab is due to arrive in less than 10 days.
“The timeline is about 10 days. The problem is the shipping, shipping complication raw. Last week pa we had closed the transaction (on the purchase of the containerized PCR lab). The problem is the shipping. They are trying to ship the containerized lab straight to Bohol. So we are giving ourselves 10 days,” Gov. Yap said during the press briefing
In earlier reports, it was stated that the containerized PCR lab will augment the capacity of the molecular lab inside the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH).
The containerized PCR lab is a mobile one, which means that it can be transferred from one location to another, according to previous reports.
The governor bared his desire to put up a network of PCR labs in the province in anticipation for the eventual opening of Bohol doors to visitors or tourists in the future.
The PCR labs will also hasten the turnaround time for the swab tests, which is currently being processed in Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center sub-national laboratory in Cebu City.
In a related development, Tagbilaran City mayor John Geesnell Yap Ii bared that the local government unit of Tagbilaran is mulling the possibility of putting up a medical laboratory capable of processing various medical tests including the PCR test.
The mayor mentioned the city government’s plan in a radio interview over the program “Open Forum” on Wednesday, July 1, 2020.
He said that he will be coordinating with the provincial government for the city’s plan to have its own medical laboratory that can also process swab samples for PCR tests.
For his part, Gov. Yap said, “Mayor Baba has discussed with me that they (the city) are buying a PCR lab. I encourage him to do so.”
The governor said the more PCR labs in Bohol, the better.
WHO CAN GET TESTED?
The Bohol Tribune asked the governor whether or not any person can avail himself of the testing facilities, Gov. Yap said the province will prioritize those who are deemed Covid positive patients.
However, the governor did not right out deny the possibility for other people who are not classified as Covid positive patients to get tested.
He said the cost for the test for those under Philhealth is about P 3,400. Philhealth will shoulder the cost for Covid positive patients’ testing, while the subsidized cost for a PCR test done in the province’s laboratory will be P4,000 for those who are not infected and chose to have an elective test.
“Sa Cebu the rate is P8,000; sa Manila ang rate nasa P10,000; sa kagamhanang probinsyal, P4,000,” the governor revealed.
PCR NETWORK
The governor has earlier said that he will not allow the commercial travel to Bohol unless there is a system of PCR testing and contact tracing.
He said that confidence on the side of the visitors and the local residents will be the catalyst that will open Bohol to tourists.
He said the tourists should be confident that they are safe here in the province and will not pick up the infection.
At the same time, local residents should be confident enough that no visitor will come in and become the one spreading the virus to the local population.