11:03 | Piura (Piura region), Dec. 19.
Piura has become the center of attention for Peruvians due to the increase of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. Therefore, the
Ministry of Health (Minsa) has strengthened the fight against this virus and has announced a shipment of 3,650 antigenic tests to this northern region.
According to Minsa, the antigenic tests will facilitate the diagnosis and early detection of COVID-19 in the most remote places of
Piura.
"The results of antigenic tests are available in less than 30 minutes, and this helps isolate a person who has tested positive for the virus in a more timely manner," said Luis Loro Chero, advisor to Minsa's Deputy Ministry of Benefits and Health Insurance.
In addition to their speed to obtain results —he highlighted— antigen tests are more effective for symptomatic people, are easier to use, and constitute an economical alternative to detect the virus.
In this sense, Minsa —with the support of the
Regional Health Directorate (Diresa) in Piura— trained health workers in the handling of antigen tests and the procedure to be followed by the teams responsible for collecting the samples.
The workshop was held by the
National Institute of Health (INS), whose specialized personnel explained that the antigen test is a nasopharyngeal swab test which —unlike the PCR one— detects the protein on the surface of the virus in minutes.
Finally, Loro reported that the region will be provided with the mobile laboratory COVID Maskaq, which is able to process up to 200 molecular tests every eight hours.
(END) NDP/MAO/MVB
Published: 12/19/2020