Baguio eyes "Do-it-yourself" COVID-19 antigen tests

Baguio City, Philippines – Baguio City is eyeing to do COVID-19 self-test with the use of antigen test kit to expedite detection and management of Coronavirus disease cases in the city amid the more contagious Omicron variant.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong, as reported by the Baguio City Public Information Office, said that the city is currently doing preparations for the introduction of the easy-to-use and do-it-yourself testing kit to Baguio residents.

"Our city could be the pilot site for this do-it-yourself testing kits that are widely used in the US, Canada, Europe, and Singapore," Magalong said.

Magalong said that Czar Vince Dizon is backing the plan. He added that he will also ask Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. of the National Task Force for COVID-19 for approval.

This self-test will not only speed up testing but also reduce ‘the chances of spreading the virus as infected persons could undertake their own tests in the comforts of their homes without having to go to health facilities which expose other people to the health risk.’

“Reducing the risk of exposure is crucial at this time when the country appears headed for another wave, this time driven by the omicron variant said to be far more infectious than the previous variants it had faced,” the mayor said.

Omicron, or the B.1.1.529 variant, is believed to be highly transmissible and was designated by the World Health Organization as a new variant of concern after the Delta variant. Epidemiologic studies continue to understand the nature of the variant and its severity.

As of Friday, Dec. 31, 14 Omicron variant cases were detected in the country. Local transmission has also been reported.

In view of the increasing cases of the variant in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, Baguio has again closed its border to tourists.

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