The city government here on Tuesday said the 23 patients under investigation (PUI)s and health workers who underwent rapid testing on April 4 were tested negative for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

The city government is still waiting for the results of the 36 others whose swab samples were taken on April 6.

Last April 2, Mayor Benjamin Magalong gave the go-signal for the rapid tests after consulting with government health practitioners to speed up the identification of those who are infected and facilitate their treatment, isolation and contact tracing.

The testing is utilizing the 400 kits donated to the city government, which will be sufficient to cover all PUIs on home quarantine.

PUIs with mild symptoms who would test positive will be subjected to confirmatory tests while those with negative results will be made to continue their 14-day quarantine.

City health officer, Dr. Rowena Galpo on Monday said the city has 390 PUIs under home isolation. (PNA)