BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
Mass testing for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) will be conducted in 18 testing centers in Bacolod City today and tomorrow.
Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who chairs the city’s inter-agency task force against COVID-19, yesterday said the mass testing will be conducted in barangays considered as “high risk” areas due to the high number of confirmed cases of COVID-19.
These are barangays Estefania, Banago, Bata, Mandalagan, Granada, Sum-ag, Singcang Airport, Taculing, Villamonte and Tangub.
About 5,000 Bacolod residents who meet Department of Health guidelines on testing priority will be covered.
The barangays will handle initial identification of those to be tested to be confirmed by the City Health Office. Familiaran said they have met with the barangay captains of Bacolod City Wednesday to get their commitment so they could reach the 5,000 target.
He also coordinated with the organization of call center agents and has invited BPO companies to subject their employees to swab test.
They have targeted about 500 BPO employees and about 1,000 government employees, he added.
Familiaran said those who will be given first priority are people who have had close contact with COVID positive patients, while those with flu-like symptoms will be considered second priority.
Persons with Disability (PWD), senior citizens, pregnant women and those undergoing dialysis will be considered third priority, while government employees, police, including vendors, jeepney and tricycle drivers will be given fourth priority, he said.*
