Duterte backs COVID-19 saliva test

January 6, 2021

President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed support to test coronavirus disease using saliva.

Quoting Senator Richard Gordon, also the chairman of the Philippine Red Cross, Duterte, in a televised message on Monday night, said that saliva test is also accurate.

"Gordon said that swabbing through saliva is 99 percent (accurate). So, let's use that," he said.

He admitted that it is "painful" whenever he undergoes swab testing by getting specimens through his nose.

Bases Conversion and Development Authority chief Vivencio Dizon, also the testing czar for COVID-19, said proposal for saliva test has been submitted last year to regulatory agencies under the Department of Health for validation and approval.

He expressed hope that the ongoing validation would be accelerated. Celerina Monte/DMS