Isko Mayor Isko Moreno, Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna and Sta. Ana Hospital Director Dr. Grace Padilla inspect the storage facility for vaccines in the said hospital. Photo by JERRY S. TAN

Isko: Manila posts ‘zero positive’ day

June 1, 2021 Itchie G. Cabayan 597 views

AT least for one day since it began giving to the public its free RT-PCR testing or swab testing last year, the city of Manila posted a ‘zero positive’ day and this was last May 29, 2021.

Mayor Isko Moreno said this is based on a report forwarded to him by Dr. Grace Padilla, director of the Sta. Ana Hospital which currently serves as the city’s premier hospital when it comes to COVID-19 cases.

The said report contained the daily count of samples received and processed on the said date and the cumulative count from start of operation on October 4, 2020.

“Maraming salamat sa Diyos. This is a very welcome piece of news at sana ay magpatuloy ang pagbaba,” an elated Moreno said, in reference to the number of people who test positive for the coronavirus.

Padilla said the said RT-PCR daily count of COVID tests done on May 29, 2021 at the Sta. Ana Hospital registered ‘zero’ positive case, which she said may be an indication that the speedy vaccination program of the city was a factor.

During the surge about four weeks ago, Padilla said more than 100 people tested positive in a day and that no day had passed without anyone turning positive.

The said hospital currently serves as the center of the city government’s anti-COVID efforts.

Apart from housing the Manila Infectious Disease Control Center (MIDCC), the city’s molecular testing laboratory and COVID vaccines storage facility, the RT-PCR machine where all the samples taken from those who avail of the free swab testing in the six city-run hospitals and the drive-thru center are brought and read for results at the said hospital.

According to Moreno, he and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna will continue doing everything to address the problems brought about by COVID-19 and make sure that all Manilans get vaccinated once the supply of necessary doses becomes steady and enough.

For her part, Lacuna said the constant appeal being made by Moreno for the citizens of Manila to avail of the free jab for their own added protection against turning severe or critical when they get infected is apparently working, based on the heavy turnout of residents in the vaccination sites.

Lacuna was tapped by Moreno to be on top of the city government’s mass vaccination program being a doctor herself, along with Manila Health Department chief Dr. Arnold Pangan.

AUTHOR PROFILE