Bohol COVID positivity 

rate at 3.3 per hundred 

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Jan 11 (PIA) –Of the two molecular laboratories in Bohol which could analyze the presence of the coronavirus disease through reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR), the local positivity rate is now at 3.3 percent. 

The rate is relatively very low compared to a recent positivity rate in the Los Angeles are in the US which accordingly registered 28 percent, said Bohol Inter-Agency Task Force on managing Emerging Infectious Diseases spokesperson Dr. Cesar Tomas Lopez. 

Speaking during the recent Kapihan sa PIA, Thursday, January 7, Dr Lopez explained that while in LA, about 28 of every 100 persons tested are confirmed with corona virus disease, it is less than 4 for every 100 in Bohol. 

World Health Organization (WHO) has suggested a positive rate lower than 10%, but better if it is lower than 3% – as a general benchmark of adequate testing. 

Bohol received an RT PCR machine and its laboratory package from the National Task Force last May 24, and which authorities placed at the Gov Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital. 

Three months later, Gallares Hospital Chief Dr. Mutya Kismet Macuno announced the official operationalization of the equipment and its laboratory, after its personnel passed the proficiency test of the operationalization of the facility, given by the Department of Health and the Regional Insititute on Tropical Medicines, August 2. 

On July 14, Capitol’s P20million equipment also arrived at the Bohol Medical Center Incorporated Complex, the second Bohol RT PCR installed here. 

By August 24, the facility earned its license to operate and start the much needed testing for the presence of the COVID-19 virus to complement the already operational Gallares facility. 

He said, since the start of the operation of the two machines and its adjoined molecular laboratory, Bohol has collected some 23, 645 swab samples for testing. 

By the succeeding process of laboratory assay, some 816 of those swab samples turned out to be positive. 

Of the 816 cases, according to Dr Lopez, 335 were arriving locally stranded individuals (LSI), while the 322 were from local transmission. 

About 100 of those who tested positive for the virus were authorized persons outside residence (APOR) and only 59 were returning Overseas Filipino Workers (ROFs), he added. 

That day too, Bohol IATF reported 17 active cases in Bohol, five of which were traced to local transmission and the rest, 12 coming from ROFs, LSI and APORs. 

As this went on, Dr Lopez cited immediate isolation, effective and efficient contact tracing, prompt diagnosis as critical in Bohol’s continuing victories against the wayward virus. 

That is because, as Dr. Lopez said, after we detected the first local transmission, we have to accept that we now have a permanent resident virus in Bohol. (rahchiu/PIA-7/Bohol) 

RESIDENT VIRUS. After the first case of local transmission of the coronavirus here, BIATF Spokesperson Dr. Cesar Tomas Lopez warns Boholanos, we do not need to get it from an LSI, ROF or APOR, so that maintaining the minimum health and safety protocols is still the best remedy available for everyone. (PIABohol) 

THE EDGE. Bohol keeps an edge over other regions when it owns 2 RT PCR machines and laboratories which facilitated the early detection, prompt diagnosis and immediate isolation coupled with a strong contact tracing system, says BIATF spokesperson Dr. Cesar Tomas Lopez during the recent Kapihan sa PIA. (PIABohol)