Walk in and drive through testing sites for COVID-19 now open for non-residents in Manila

Now, non-residents of Manila are also being offered with free tests at walk-in and drive through sites. Two drive-through test centers are located at Quirino Grandstand and in front of the Bonifacio Shrine while two walk-in sites are located next to the Ospital ng Sampaloc and the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center.

At the moment, more or less 4,000 individuals have already been tested in Manila City's drive-thru testing for COVID-19. From those tested individuals, over 600 were found to be positive with COVID-19, Mayor Isko Moreno said on Friday.

Drive-thru testing centers in the city located at Lawton and Quirino Grandstand are already offering free tests on everyone, residents or non-residents. It operates from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Photo credit: mb.com.ph

The facilities for testing make use of a serology test which detects the presence of COVID-19 antibodies in blood samples with the use of a machine. It is more accurate than a rapid test that also detects antibodies and results are released in 24 hours. Anyone who wants to be tested needs to bring a valid ID with them.

With the big number of citizens that wants to get tested only proves that if it's accessible and free or affordable many will voluntarily submit, Moreno added.

Moreno added that if the testing is free and accessible or affordable for anyone to undergo with, many will voluntarily submit considering the huge number of citizens in Manila.

Testing facilities in Manila needs at least P2 million a day or around P60 million to run all of the four facilities. On Monday, the city government has received 2 donations an hour worth P9.3 million from non-residents.

Manila's mass testing approach is based off of that from South Korea and Singapore as these countries has been leading when it comes to mass testing strategies. The city government is also developing its own washable anti-virus mask like that of Czechoslovakia, said Moreno. "We're trying to copy the best practices in different countries," he said.