By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Bago City government is now operating its “drive-thru” swab testing as part of the city’s campaign against Covid-19.

The first of its kind among local government units in the province, the testing station is located at the front yard of the ABAP Gym and was able to swab 21 Bagonhons on its first day on Wednesday, September 23.

In a statement issued by Bago City’s official public information page “The Citybridge,” they said the drive through concept will not only provide faster service to the people of Bago but also a much safer set-up because there is less face-to-face contact.

Glenly Casona, swab team leader and medical technologist for the Bago City Health Office (CHO), said the target individuals will be swabbed inside their own vehicles.

Casona pointed they cannot practically do house to house testing due to lack of manpower. She also stated some of the city’s residents are hesitant to undergo swabbing because they are not comfortable with the presence of ambulances or medtechs, who are wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), in front of their homes.

She said that with the drive through system, Bago City can save money purchasing PPEs, adding they have to change it whenever they do house to house testing.

Residents of the city may avail of the said service for free provided he or she has an endorsement from the Contact Tracing Team or the Operations Center of the City Health Office.

They are open Mondays thru Fridays from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

In the afternoon, the CHO swab team will conduct quarantine facility testing around the city for returning overseas Filipinos and locally stranded individuals./DGB, WDJ