BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Regional authorities consider the high positivity rate in the turnout of the mass testing “alarming” and “worrisome” during the virtual presser earlier.
Department of Health Region 7 chief pathologist Dr. Mary Jean Loreche said the the samples sent to them for testing has a positivity rate of 13 percent, while that of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital has a positivity rate of 27 percent.
This could be alarming if taken against the current bed capacity of hospitals here — currently at 161 — to accommodate all those that tested positive.
She cited that of the 1598 specimens that had been tested, 212 (or 13 percent) turned out positive.
That is 212 versus the 161 current bed capacity for CoViD patients here, she said.
“Where will the rest be admitted?” Loreche said.
Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Assistant Secretary Jonji Gonzales said the high positivity rate is also “worrisome” but it is not reason to panic.
“It is okay to be scared so you will not be complacent,” Gonzales said.