POE ON COVID-19 MASS TESTING:

As we pin our hopes on the arrival of more COVID-19 vaccines, let us not lose the sense of urgency in conducting mass testing and contact tracing -- which are the backbone of our pandemic response.

Granular lockdowns being imposed in some areas in Metro Manila should have complementary testing of the residents not just in the area, but of the surrounding communities as well.

We should carry out as many tests as possible, including on those with no visible symptoms as a preemptive strike to lessen the risk of exposing their household, immediate community and workplace to infection.

We hope the government is persistently working to achieve its promise of 10 million tests by the first quarter of 2021, and even more.

The spread of the disease would just resume upon the lifting of the lockdowns without mass testing.