The Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory is working around the clock to clear the backlog of COVID-19 tests, says Minister of Health and Wellness Jeffrey Bostic.
And although some strides were made in that area, they are also trying to stay on top of the current tests and within the return times stipulated in the protocols.
Bostic was addressing the issue of the backlog during Tuesday’s COVID-19 management update hosted by Ambassador Elizabeth Thompson.
He said the lab was operating on a 24-hour basis and on each shift, there was one team working on current cases and a second one on the outstanding tests, but acknowledged they won’t be cleared with the snap of a finger.
He said polyclinics and testing sites were given colour-coded bars based on the different categories, so when the swabs arrived at the lab, they were separated. Those which have a 24-hour turn-around time were given priority and the others fell in line. The Shape app is also fully operational, so the updates are now being made in real time.
In response to a question from the media, the Minister said not every technician at the lab was working on COVID-19 testing as there are others tests that still have to be carried out. (SAT)
