Push Admin

Philippines' daily COVID-19 testing capacity climbs to 40,000

Article (news)

Arianne Merez, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/05/19/20200513-covid19-ofw-swab-testing-gc-0405_1.jpg"/><figcaption>An Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) from Thailand holds his 2-year-old son as he covers his nose at a swab testing center for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Manila on May 13, 2020. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA - The Philippines can already run over 40,000 tests for the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) per day, the deputy chief implementer of the country&#x27;s pandemic response said Thursday, although actual tests conducted daily remain far behind.The maximum COVID-19 testing capacity of the country has increased further to 41,990, Bases and Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) President and COVID-19 policy deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon said.The government <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/25/20/philippines-meets-goal-of-30000-daily-covid-19-tests-palace">earlier reported</a> having achieved a 32,000-tests daily capacity.&quot;Nalampasan po natin ang ating goal na 30,000 testing capacity sa Mayo, at ngayon po ay nasa 41,990 na po tayo,&quot; Dizon said in a Palace press briefing.(We have exceeded our goal of 30,000 testing capacity for May, and now we can run 41,990 tests.)The Philippine Red Cross accounts for the biggest bulk of the testing capacity since its facilities can run 12,000 COVID-19 tests per day, Dizon said. The country currently has 52 COVID-19 testing laboratories, 19 of which are from the private sector.With the increase in testing capacity, Dizon said the government can expand its testing to include persons who are suspected to be sick with COVID-19 but are asymptomatic.&quot;Dapat po, ang goal na na natin ngayon sa expanded targeted testing ay ang paghahanap at pagte-test ng mga asymptomatic,&quot; he said.(We should now expand testing to include asymptomatic persons.)But even with the improved testing capacity, actual COVID-19 tests in the country only peaked to no more than 12,000 in a single day.<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/06/04/20200604-daily-test.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Graph by the ABS-CBN Data Analytics Team</figcaption></figure></div>Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire had said daily COVID-19 tests in the country were averaging between 8,000 and 9,000, and attributed to operational issues the failure to match the actual tests with the maximum capacity.As of June 3, the Philippines has confirmed 19,748 COVID-19 cases, including 974 deaths and 4,153 recoveries.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/25/20/ph-should-invest-in-automated-pcr-testing-to-increase-covid-19-detection-help-lab-workers">PH should invest in automated PCR testing to increase COVID-19 detection, help lab workers</a></li></ul>

The Philippines can already run over 40,000 tests for the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) per day, the deputy chief implementer of the country's pandemic response said Thursday, although actual tests conducted daily remain far behind.

The Philippines can already run over 40,000 tests for the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) per day, the deputy chief implementer of the country's pandemic response said Thursday, although actual tests conducted daily remain far behind.

Philippines' daily COVID-19 testing capacity climbs to 40,000

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

News

Philippines' daily COVID-19 testing capacity climbs to 40,000

Arianne Merez,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 04, 2020 03:53 PM PHT

Read More:

COVID-19 test

testing capacity PH

PH testing capacity

new coronavirus

Philippines

coronavirus update

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.