By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) Bio-Molecular Laboratory has already processed close to 100,000 COVID-19 tests since its establishment back in June of this year.

Provincial administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, said the TLJPH laboratory now holds one of the highest testing rates outside of Metro Manila, alongside the Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City and Vicenter Sotto Memorial Medical Center Molecular Biology Laboratory.

Diaz said the only difference for the TLJPH molecular laboratory is that the facility was established and maintained by the provincial government itself, and is only receiving support from the Department of Health (DOH) which supplies the test kits and the health personnel.

Despite the high testing rate being carried out by the TLJPH laboratory, they have only recorded a six percent COVID-19 positivity rate.

Diaz added the provincial government hopes that the number of COVID-19 cases in the province will continue to drop and he is urging the public to maintain the health protocols.

As of November 18, Negros Occidental has a total of 5,275 confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which 1,101 are active, based on Department of Health 6 record.

The province also recorded 4,070 recoveries and 104 COVID deaths./DGB, WDJ