The Marikina COVID-19 Testing Facility has been prepared for a couple of weeks already but has not been operational because of some concerns by the DOH about its location. Since then, the location has been transferred to adhere with standards.
According to Marikina Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro, they will open the testing center on Friday even without the go signal from the DOH. Inspectors were supposed to arrive at the facility on April 13 and the morning of April 14.
Marikina City will open its COVID testing center on Friday even without DOH approval. Mayor Marcy Teodoro cites ‘local autonomy,’ adds DOH inspectors haven’t visited the structure despite several requests.
Shortly after, a team from DOH arrived to inspect the proposed laboratory pic.twitter.com/d0EXxRCGr3
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) April 14, 2020
“I-demanda na nila ako para sa kababayan ko. Sa tingin ko mas malaking kasalanan sa batas at tao ang kawalang aksyon ng DOH ngayon dahil buhay ang nawawala” said Mayor Teodoro.
There are 59 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Marikina where 6 patients have recovered and 14 have died from the disease.
The city government also signed a deal with the Manila HealthTek, Inc., which produces the rapid test kits designed by scientists from the University of the Philippines, to buy 3,000 additional test kits for the city. This is on top of an initial batch of 3,000 kits acquired by the city hall.
