By ANALOU DE VERA, GENALYN D. KABILING, ARGYLL CYRUS B. GEDUCOS, JUN RAMIREZ, and ROY MABASA Health Secretary Francisco Duque III tested negative for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an official of the Department of Health (DOH) said on Sunday. "Negative ang COVID-19 result for Sec. Duque. He is okay," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told THE Manila Bulletin in a text message. Vergeire said they received the test result on Saturday night, March 21. "The Secretary of Health is still working at home. Siya po ay nasa maayos na condition. Wala po siyang nararamdaman na sintomas ," she said. Last March 19, Duque said that he was undergoing home quarantine after one of his department's officials was tested positive for COVID-19. Duque had a direct contact with the said positive official. Malacañang is glad that Duque has tested negative for COVID-19 and will continue to work as the coun- try’s health chief after completing his two-week quarantine, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said. The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country rose to 380 with 73 new cases, 25 deaths, and 15 recovered patients. PH tests 1K PUIs daily The Philippine government is testing an average of 950 to 1,000 persons under investigation (PUIs) for COVID-19 a day, a health official said on Saturday. "Kapag ini-total po natin lahat ng nagagawa natin for one day, ang average po ay 950 to 1,000 tests per day (If we total the number, we get to test an average of 950 to 1,000 per day)," Vergeire said.. At the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) alone, she said the average test is around 600 a day. "Since we established the subnational laboratories, three of them are now capable of testing 100 while the other is 50 a day," she said. Given the recent donations, Vergeire said the number of COVID-19 test kits may now be considered "sufficient at present time" but she reiterated that not all PUIs need to be tested. "Ang tine-test po natin ngayon ay 'yong mga taong may severe na sintomas, 'yong mga taong kasama sa vulnerable population natin (We are testing now those who have severe symptoms, those who are included in the vulnerable population)," she said. On Saturday morning, China donated a total of 100,000 sets of Novel Coronavirus Nucleic Acid Diagnostic Kit (PCR-Fluorescence Probing), which will be distributed from the RITM to sub-national laboratories... in the country. The University of the Philippines National Institute of Health (UPNIH) and the Department of Science and Technology recently developed a local Covid-19 test kit, which is now used for field testing. To date, Vergeire said the UP-NIH test kits are being validated that would run for at least two to three weeks. After the field trial, she said these kits would be evaluated and be given a certificate of product registration from the Food and Drug Administration for commercial use in the country. Malacañang has commended the heroism of the frontliners in the country's battle against COVID-19, assuring them that the Palace will give them the assistance they need to perform their duties. BI appeal The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has appealed to government and private sectors in procuring personal protective equipment (PPEs) for its front liners amid the growing threat of COVID-2019. "There is a lack of PPEs for frontline personnel, especially those assigned at the airports and seaports," BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said. He said they are finding it hard to procure PPEs like facemasks and alcohol due to worldwide demand for these health products. Meanwhile, port operations division chief Grifton Medina described the situation at various International gateways as difficult but still manageable. “Officers feel threatened by this virus, there is always a fear of being exposed to it,” he stated. Immigration officers, according to Medina, are the first to interact with arriving passengers that might be infected by the deadly disease. He said "our men have resorted to using makeshift or reusable facemasks to protect themselves." In appealing for support in securing PPEs, Morente said “we are one of those at risk in getting this virus and the much-needed supplies are easily depleted." Positive for COVID-19 The Philippine Embassies in Brunei Darussalam and India have confirmed that Filipino nationals tested positive for COVID-19 in both countries. The Department of Foreign Affairs said the two Filipino nationals, one each from Brunei and India, are now confined in local hospitals. Citing reports from Brunei Darussalam’s Ministry of Health, said the DFA said the Filipino national is in “stable condition.” In the case of the Filipino in India, the DFA said the male person arrived in India in early March and was brought to the hospital after complaining of difficulty in breathing. He is now confined in a medical facility in Mumbai. Both embassies are in close coordination with Brunei’s health authorities and the Honorary Consulate in Mumbai, the DFA said, even as it assured that appropriate assistance will be extended with maximum care and support. (With PNA)