Gov. Arthur Yap reports that a person who is under quarantine can opt to cut short the quarantine period as long as he/she is asymptomatic and he tests negative for coronavirus disease (Covid) using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

The governor said this during the press conference on Friday, August 7, 2020 at the Capitol.

He clarified that the directive is based on the recommendation of the Bohol Medical Society (BMS) and the medical cluster of the Bohol Inter Agency Task Force (B-IATF).

Furthermore, infectious disease specialist Dr. Elan Salada explained that the best time to let a person take the PCR test is on the fifth day from the presumed date of exposure or from the date of the start of the quarantine period.

Meanwhile, the governor bared that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has approved the cost of a PCR test processed at the provincial government-owned containerized PCR laboratory.

 He said the PCR test is free for Philhealth members who are able to fulfill the terms and conditions of the health insurance agency.

Otherwise, people who are looking to undergo a PCR test needs to shell out P4,500.

The SP Committees on Ways and Means and Health conducted a public hearing on Friday, which is part of the process related to the passage of an ordinance setting the cost of a PCR test processed from the containerized PCR laboratory currently based at the compound of the Bohol Medical Care Institute (BMCI) compound in barangay Dao, Tagbilaran City.