RITM scales down lab operations

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) yesterday announced a temporary scaling down of laboratory operations.

Thirty-one personnel have tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to the RITM, which added that the downscaling is also to address equipment problems, shortage of hard-to-procure supplies and an overflow of samples received over the past weeks.

Ten employees remain symptomatic but stable, while the others are recovering.

RITM director Celia Carlos said the RITM would still accept specimens from admitted patients within the agency’s testing zone for the five days of the laboratory operations scale down, which will end on July 19.

Carlos was referring to the catchment areas assigned to RITM which include Las Piñas, Makati, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Pasay, Pateros, and Taguig in Metro Manila; Batangas, Laguna, and Quezon in Region 4A; and Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, and Romblon in Region 4B.