40 RITM personnel positive for COVID-19, but mostly mild symptoms

April 21, 2020

At least 40 personnel of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine ( RITM), the country's main reference laboratory, have tested positive for COVID-19.

"Around 40 have tested positive for COVID-19. But they are not severely ill. Those with mild symptoms are quarantined at our dormitory," said RITM Director  Celia Carlos in a television interview.

She said the few who showed more serious symptoms have been admitted at the RITM hospital facility.

Carlos said for the moment, RITM will be prioritizing the samples  from their own personnel.

"Right now, we are testing all our staff. Processing their test samples is our priority. When we finish that, that's the only time we will start processing external samples," said Carlos.

The DOH said there are 16 other laboratories that they have accredited to test COVID-19 samples. DMS