The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) is studying the use of saliva test for COVID-19, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Friday.
“As soon as RITM (can) have initial results of this study, we will be sharing it to (sic) everybody because this is something worth pursuing..and if feasible for testing here in the country,” Vergeire said in an online press briefing.
On Thursday, Project Antibody Rapid Test Kit, the private-sector-led initiative that aims to boost the country’s capacity to identify and contain COVID-19, said it was working to bring this game-changer “antigen saliva test” to the Philippines for faster and cheaper detection of the coronavirus.
Vergeire said one of the advantages of this saliva test was that specimens were easier to collect compared to PCR test which involved swabbing.
To get an accurate yield, the specimen must be of the right amount.
Agreement with Russia
The Philippine government has yet to sign an agreement with Russia to get hold of the Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trial results of COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V, Vergeire also said.
“We are still trying to accomplish this legal document that is needed for us to be able to obtain or be granted with this request for these documents on their Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials,” Vergeire said.
Results of the first two phases of Sputnik V’s clinical trials will be carefully reviewed by the Philippines’ vaccine experts panel before Phase 3 could start, Vergeire said.
Malacañang said President Rodrigo Duterte could be vaccinated with the Russian-made vaccine as early as May 2021.
‘Regulate drugs’
A female legislator on Friday urged concerned government agencies to regulate prices of COVID-19 therapeutic drugs.
Assistant Majority Leader and Quezon City Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo said the Department of Health and the Department of Trade and Industry should intervene to bring down the cost of medicines doctors are using to treat patients afflicted with new coronavirus disease in the absence of a proven cure and a vaccine.
She said these medications include remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, dexamethasone, and ivermectin.
“Their prices have shot up by as much as 12 times. One of these drugs now costs about P60,000, if you can find it in the market,” she said.
Anti-viral medication
Based on information on the Internet, remdesivir is a broad-spectrum anti-viral medication, while hydroxychloroquine is used to prevent and treat malaria.
Dexamethasone relieves inflammation, swelling and pain. It is used to treat certain forms of arthritis, skin, blood, thyroid, eye, and intestinal problems, asthma and allergies.
Ivermectin, on the other hand, is an anti-parasitic and anti-viral drug.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly endorsed the use of one of these drugs.
Protected lanes
The Department of Health reiterated its call for local government units to roll out protected bicycle lanes as soon as possible.
“Given the current limitations on public transport, cycling and other forms of active transport remain some of the most effective ways to travel while observing physical distancing and maintaining open ventilation —both key in mitigating the spread of COVID-19,” said the DOH in a statement.
On August 23, nurse and COVID-19 frontliner Renz Jayson Perez was killed by a black pick-up truck in a hit-and-run while riding his bicycle along Padre Burgos Avenue.
Shuttle service
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has provided free shuttle service to cater its employees going to and from work as public transportation continues to be limited during the lockdown.
Four brand new fully air conditioned buses will be dispatched on the following areas to ferry MMDA personnel in the morning on the way to the office and after office hours: Monumento-MCU in Caloocan City; Coastal Mall in Parañaque City; Robinsons’ Fairview in Quezon City, and Sta. Lucia Mall in Pasig City.
Knowing the public land transport restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, MMDA chairman Danilo Lim said the new shuttle buses will greatly help employees and give them comfortability as they go to work.
Temperature checks will also be in place before boarding the bus. Passenger who has colds, coughs or body temperature greater than 37.5 degrees Celsius will not be allowed to ride the bus.