It is clear that the current pandemic has impacted our lives and it will take a long while until we return to the “old normal”. Yet, Bohol is blessed to be able to change its fortunes by having, not just one (1), but two (2) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) laboratories.
With these laboratories, Bohol can finally impose the three (3) T’s: trace, test, and treat those who are infected with Covid 19. As a result, the province gains an edge in the management of the Covid situation.
Effectively, the new molecular laboratory inside the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) and the mobile containerized PCR laboratory currently located at the Bohol Medical Care Institute (BMCI) compound in barangay Dao, will surely improve the way Bohol is handling the Covid situation.
On Monday, August 3, 2020, GCGMH medical center head Dr. Mutya Kismet Macuno bared that the hospital was having a soft opening of the PCR laboratory following a perfect score in the proficiency test.
Then, on Friday, August 7, 2020, the hospital finally unveiled the laboratory that was supposed to be operational last June 2020, but was impacted by delays.
After the birth pains getting out of the way, the GCGMH laboratory finally tested its first reportedly 40 swab samples early this week.
Macuno, in a text message to The Bohol Tribune, said all of the initial swab samples that the laboratory tested on the initial run turned out to be “negative”.
With the laboratory now operational, the turnaround time for the results will be faster. This means, Bohol will have the capability to treat those who turn out to be positive and contain the close contacts earlier than usual.
During his visit to Bohol, the Interior and Local Government Sec. Eduardo Año lauded Bohol’s strong adherence to the 3 T’s.
GAME CHANGER
Once all of the laboratories are operational, people who are placed in quarantine facilities and the asymptomatic may opt to get tested after five (5) days.
This will cut the time needed by a person to stay in quarantine, and the PCR laboratories will play a huge role.
According to Dr. Cesar Tomas Lopez, spokesperson of the Bohol Inter Agency Task Force (B-IATF), Gov. Arthur Yap issued a memorandum following a meeting of some doctors in the province including representatives from the Bohol Medical Society, Philippine College of Physicians, Dr. Elan Salada and Dr. Macuno.
Lopez said that the governor bared that a pereon under quarantine may opt not to complete the 14-day quarantine.
“Kung ang naka quarantine, na wala gyu’y sintoma, mahimo sa ika-limang adlaw sa iyang quarantine magpakuha sya ug PCR swab… for as long as he is without symptom, kuhaan sya ug PCR swab ug unya pag gawas sa results kon negatibo ang iyang PCR (result) ma-clear na sya makagawas sa iyang quarantine.” Lopez said in a presser last Wednesday, August 6, 2020.
He cleared that the person wishing to cut short the quarantine stay should be asymptomatic, as examined by a competent medical professional.
The spokesperson reiterated that the PCR test is the gold standard when it comes to diagnosing a person for Covid infection.
Moreover, he said that the PCR test detects the presence of the virus and not merely antibodies.
Based on the nature of the virus, the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is at its best on the fifth day from the time the person is placed under quarantine or has presumed contact with the virus.
In a text message, Lopez told The Bohol Tribune that it will be the person who will opt to cut the quarantine period short who will be shouldering cost of the PCR test.
With the quarantine period possible to be shorter, there would be more rooms in quarantine facilities and this will open the doors to visitors to Bohol as they can now explore the province after five days from arrival.
COST
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Ways and Means and Committee on Health conducted a public hearing to set by way of an ordinance the fees thaf will be imposed on the tests that will be run at the containerized PCR laboratory owned by the provincial government.
The public hearing happened on Friday, August 7, 2020 and the output of the public hearing will be used to tweak the ordinance setting the cost of PCR tests.
TOURISM REOPENING
Tourism Sec. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said she is confident Bohol can re-open its tourism industry by the fourth quarter of the year.
In this connection, the operation of the PCR labs will play a critical role in the re-opening of the tourism industry.
The laboratories will enable Bohol to confidently accept visitors who will not be spreading the virus as the visitors will gain confidence that they will be safe and healthy when they visit the province.
Bohol hopes to gain edge over Covid 19 with 2 new labs here
