PBA plans regular coronavirus testing inside bubble
MANILA, Philippines—Holding a sporting event in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic is always a tough task and PBA is taking every measure to ensure the safety of everyone who will be joining the bubble.
Big part of that is regular COVID-19 testing for everyone.
With the PBA already shouldering the living expenses inside the bubble in Clark, Pampanga, the league’s testing protocol will be under the care of the Clark Development Corporation.
Bases Conversion Development Authority CEO Vince Dizon said the CDC will provide logistic support to the PBA when it comes to testing and health care.
“In our proposal to the PBA, the CDC will take care of the testing to every player, coach, staff member, and everyone involved in the Bubble,” said Dizon in Filipino Thursday in a Zoom press conference. “We’ll also help them, with the help of health experts, to create testing protocols and other logistics including transportation and security.”
The CDC is a subsidiary of the BCDA.
Dr. Raul Canlas, head of the league medical committee that will oversee the health guidelines in Clark, said that players are required to undergo a swab test once a week once inside the Bubble.
That protocol, however, may be scrapped once Antigen testing gets the approval from the Department of Health.
“Antigen (testing) will be done every three days and it’s 80 percent sensitive,” said Canlas of the test that will produce results within 15 to 30 minutes.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Antigen tests are rapid procurers that best perform best when the person is tested in the early stages of infection with SARS-CoV-2 when the viral load is at the highest.
Antigen testing is also informative in diagnostic testing situations wherein the person has been exposed to an individual who tested positive for COVID-19.
Dizon said that the PBA delegation inside Clark will have a safe space reserved for them.
“Clark is gated and Mimosa itself is gated. All the entrances and exits in Mimosa will be closed during the Bubble and the PBA will have exclusive use of Quest Hotel,” said Dizon.
