Amid the rising number of confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) offers a guideline on when to get tested for COVID-19.
In a previous press briefing, the Health Department said experiencing respiratory symptoms does not mean you should get tested immediately.
Individuals who are experiencing mild symptoms such as fever, dry cough, fatigue, productive phlegm, sore throat, headache are advised to self-isolate and be home quarantined for 14 days.
Here is a simple checklist to determine if an individual should get tested:
1. Are you experiencing severe or critical symptoms?
2. Have you travelled to another country recently, specifically in places with positive COVID-19 cases?
3. Did you have contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient or anyone in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient ?
4. Were you exposed to a place with a confirmed COVID-19 case?
If you checked all of these things, the DOH suggests getting tested immediately. You can contact the designated hotline at (02) 8-651-7800 loc 1149-1150 for appropriate management and referral.
The DOH also reported the lack of test kits in the country. According to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, the government currently has 4,500 individual tests and 2,000 more extraction kits will be expected to arrive on Tuesday (March 10). —AAC
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