BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday issued a memorandum setting up guidelines on the roll out and use of rapid antigen testing kits for expanded contact tracing and early detection measures, as COVID-19 active cases in Negros Occidental, rose to 4,214, as of October 6, based on the report of the Provincial Incident Management Team (PIMT).
Lacson said that the provincial government of Negros Occidental will start the roll out of Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) on October 9 to speed up contact tracing efforts and to provide an alternative means of testing.
Local government units to be provided with testing kits are cities of La Carlota, Talisay, Silay, Kabankalan and Himamaylan, as well as municipalities of Pulupandan, Binalbagan, Toboso, San Enrique and Don Salvador Benedicto.
But Lacson said that the PIMT will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of the effort, and may propose the inclusion of additional local government units, dependent on arising needs. He advised local government units that individuals who test positive for rapid antigen test kits shall be isolated and managed as COVID-19 cases.
Lacson also pointed out that only approved and recommended rapid antigen test kits, as approved by the Department of Health, will be used.
Rapid antigen tests shall be conducted at the LGU level with training and support to be provided by the Provincial Health Office, in coordination with the Department of Health for licensing and accreditation purposes, he also said.
Testing and consumption of provincial government acquired test kits, will primarily be used on close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases, Lacson said.
He added that testing will also be allowed to people residing in closed, or semi-closed institutions, sharing common facilities with presumptive or confirmed outbreaks.*
