NAKATANGGAP ang Quezon City ng 3,800 rapid antibody-based diagnostic test (RDTs) kits mula sa Project Ark.
“We appreciate the support of the private sector especially Project Ark in our battle against COVID-19. This initiative complements our efforts of intensive community testing to identify patients from our barangays,” ani Mayor Joy Belmonte.
Pinili naman ng lungsod ang mga barangay na mayroong mataas na kaso ng coronavirus disease 2019 upang gamitin ang mga rapid test kits.
Ito ang barangay Immaculate Concepcion, Kristong Hari, Kalugusan, at Dona Aurora.
“These barangays were identified to be the pilot areas based on their population, active cases, and attack rate of the virus in the area. These barangays are also located along Quezon City’s hospital belt, an area with hospitals accommodating COVID-19 patients.”
Marami rin umanong health workers na nakatira sa mga barangay na ito kaya mas mataas ang panganib na kumalat ang sakit sa lugar. Ayon sa datos ng Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (ESU) ng QC, 25 porsyento ng mga nag-positibo sa COVID-19 ay health workers.
“The rapid diagnostic test identifies the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies which are generated by the body in response to COVID-19 infection. The presence of IgM presumes that a person’s immune system is still responding to the infection. While IgG positive speculates that antibodies were developed after they have already fought off the virus in the recent past,” saad ng pahayag ng QC government.
Sa 1500 residente, .33 porsyento ang nagpositibo sa IgM. Ang mga ito ay sumunod na sumailalim sa polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test na gold standard ng COVID-19 test. Dinala sila sa HOPE facility habang naghihintay ng resulta.
Sinabi naman ni Joseph Juico, project manager ng community testing, na kailangan pa ring mag-ingat ang mga residente na nagpositibo sa IgG.
“Just because they turned out positive for IgG only and negative for IgM, does not make them invincible to the virus. That is why we still strongly recommend them to be cautious and practice health protocols such as disinfecting, wearing masks, and social distancing,” ani Juico.
Nagpositibo ang .87 porsyento sa IgG.
Gagamitin din ang RDT kita sa 11 lugar sa limang barangay na nasa ilalim ng lockdown.