QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- The local government of Parañaque announced on Monday, May 8, that it will be dispensing free RT-PCR tests through the City Health Office (CHO) to prevent the further transmission of the COVID-19 virus among residents.  

Following the prioritization framework of the national government, the Parañaque CHO will provide local testing services to PhilHealth members belonging to A1 (frontline health workers), A2 (senior citizens), and A3 (persons with co-morbidities) population groups given that they experience symptomatic tendencies.  

Healthcare frontliners who are working in both national and local medical facilities, whether public or private, are eligible to avail of the service by only presenting a photocopy of their employer ID as well as the accomplished PhilHealth forms. 

The in-city senior citizens aged 60 years old and above are meanwhile entailed to present a photocopy of their ID issued by the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) aside from the required PhilHealth forms. 

On the other hand, the persons with identified co-morbidities who would like to avail the free RT-PCR test are required to present a doctor’s certificate indicating their medical condition and an authorized order for the swab test. 

According to the COVID-19 situation report of the CHO, the active cases in the city slightly decreased from 80 to 75 positive cases as of May 8. 

Of which, 3 local transmissions were logged from Barangay Baclaran; 4 from Barangay Marcelo Green; 5 from Barangays San Dionisio and Merville; 7 from Barangay Moonwalk; 8 from Barangays San Antonio and San Martin De Porres; 9 from Barangay Sun Valley; 12 from Barangay San Isidro; 13 from Don Bosco while a single case was recorded in Barangay Vitalez. 

Nine residents, however, were added to the city's recoveries while the COVID-19 related deaths remained zero. 

Amidst the growing concern due to the rising positivity rates in the National Capital Region (NCR), City Mayor Eric L. Olivares reminded the residents to continue practicing the minimum public health standards. 

To strengthen their immunity and risk tolerance, the local chief executive also urged the residents to get vaccinated, especially those who are immunocompromised. 

In a report from Dr. Guido David of the OCTA Research Group, the daily positivity rate of NCR slightly rose to 22.9 percent as of May 7 from 17.8 percent on April 30. 

The Department of Health (DOH) meanwhile logged 1,545 new COVID-19 active cases which brings the country’s total to 4,104,333. (PIA-NCR)