Taguig City initiates drive-thru COVID-19 testing

MANILA: On April 22, Taguig City officially activated its drive-through testing as part of the city’s efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19.

According to Taguig mayor  Lino Cayetano the testing is under the Systematic Mass Approach to Responsible Testing (SMART) program of Taguig.  This initiative is seen as as a convenient way to reduce transmission and provide effective treatment to infected individuals.

The drive-through testing is applicable for those who see the health centers as inaccessible but own private vehicles. This initiative will be done in temporary testing facilities in Taguig Lakeshore (Barangay Lower Bicutan) and Bonifacio Global City (Barangay Fort Bonifacio) this coming weekend.

Through the approach, COVID-19 testing will be more accessible for the residents of Taguig City. Mayor Cayetano also added that by doing this, they would be able to target the COVID-19 infected individuals in the city, which will help normalize testing and remove the stigma regarding the virus. It will also assist the health care workers in the safe handling of possible COVID-19 cases.

Drive-through testing originated in South Korea, known for its success story in curbing the COVID-19 outbreak in their country. In Seoul, around 20,000 people were tested daily through this approach. Based on the report of the World Health Organization (WHO), the fatality rate of South Korea due to the coronavirus is only 1.7%, as compared to the global COVID-19 fatality rate of five percent.

Because of this outcome, other countries have followed suit. In the US, the first testing center was launched in a parking garage for proper ventilation. In Europe, hospitals in Wales, Ireland, Spain, France, and Germany were also used as drive-through testing centers. Other countries that have utilized this approach include Nigeria, South Africa, Israel, India, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Drive-through testing has helped government officials reuse empty locations instead of constructing new facilities and worrying about additional funding. Experts stated that the rapid and recent expansion of drive-thru testing could create a ripple effect. Aside from minimizing the number of people who need to go to a hospital or regular testing center, it also helps deal with the burden on health care facilities and drive-through testing centers can also help in the prevention of coronavirus transmission.

According to the head of the infectious disease section of the medical department of Cambridge University, Dr. Ankur Mutreja, drive-through testing is similar to stopping by a highway toll booth. But instead of making a payment, the vehicle stops by for a swab sample.

The testing usually takes only five minutes. The individual to be tested stays inside the car to comply with social distancing measures. Possible COVID-19 patients who have symptoms can go to the testing center, and a healthcare professional in protective gear will get a swab from their throat, mouth, or nose. The tests are delivered to a laboratory, and results will be provided immediately after processing through an online portal, email, phone, or text message.

For the drive-thru testing in Taguig, residents who are suspected of contracting COVID-19 need to fill out an online evaluation form. If the health care professionals have determined the need for them to be tested, they will be provided with a number, which they will utilize for the drive-through testing.

The testing centers will be available for at least two hours daily to prevent frontliners and possible patients from experiencing heatstroke and other weather-related conditions this summer.

Due to this holistic method to curb the COVID-19 outbreak in Taguig, Mayor Cayetano reiterates that the city has maintained low transmission of the virus.

Even though there are numerous challenges, such as the standardization and reliability of the tests and the speed of the test approval processes, more countries have embraced drive-through testing as an approach to curtail the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Photo from the Taguig Public Information Office through the Philippine News Agency