WITH the backlog of COVID-19 tests now cleared, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, has revealed that the processing of samples will now be completed within two days.
The Minister made the disclosure, last Friday, while updating the Department of Public Information (DPI) on the newest measures adopted to counter the pandemic.

“Right now, we have a manageable set of samples that come in every day and we are able to process these in a timely manner. In 24 to 48 hours, we are able to get those samples out,” he said.
Dr. Anthony owes this to several interventions undertaken by the Government to widen and improve the testing capacity of the National Public Health Reference Laboratory, inclusive of training more medical technologists to conduct the test and the implementation of a three-shift system, so the laboratory can operate on a 24-hour basis.

“All three shifts work. If there is a heavy load and if there is a lighter work load, then the shifts are reduced depending on the samples,” the Minister said.
In August, when there was a backlog of samples, the Ministry had restricted testing to symptomatic persons and those who might have been in contact or exposed to a person who tested positive for the disease. Walk-in patients were urged to follow preventative guidelines and to self-quarantine until a period of time had elapsed and they showed no severe signs or symptoms.

Hospitalised persons who were never tested for COVID-19 were given priority to undergo testing and obtain their results. Additionally, frontline workers are being prioritised for tests and results as they are among those likely to have been exposed to positive cases.
Meanwhile, the Minister said last Wednesday, during his contribution to the 2020 Budget debate, that he owed the new developments in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic to the Government’s frontal approach.

According to the Minister, since taking up office less than two months ago, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has engaged several international agencies, including PAHO/WHO, the Caribbean Public Health Agency, and CARICOM, to secure supplies of critical gear and equipment.
“The People’s Progressive Party Government took aggressive steps to strengthen the response, ensuring there was an aggressive laboratory testing programme, expanding contact tracing, providing exposed persons with testing and counselling, and providing for adequate hospital treatment and care for the critically ill,” Minister Anthony said.

The Government also boosted capacity for testing and the treatment and care of COVID-19 patients. More medical technologists were trained, and a 24-hour shift system which was implemented has increased the number of tests performed. Additionally, more polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines were acquired and soon the National Public Health Reference Laboratory will receive an automated testing machine which could process 96 samples in two hours.
To boost treatment capacity at regional hospitals, the Government trained doctors and procured ventilators to ensure those services were available there. Additionally, the drug Remdesivir has been added to the Ministry’s inventory as an effective treatment method for COVID-19.