The Zamboanga City Medical Center COVID-19 testing laboratory started operation yesterday, Dr. Justin Paber, spokesperson of the incident command system of the hospital, said Thursday.

Twenty-three specimens were tested and all had negative results.

Paber said the polymerase chain reaction machine was able to conduct 8 tests in an hour.

More tests can be done when two more laboratory testing facilities will be operational in Zamboanga City to include the Philippine Red Cross laboratory and that of the Department of Agriculture.

Zamboanga City remains under enhanced community quarantine.

Recently, the city health office said there were 60 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Zamboanga City.

City health officer Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite said the city recorded 611 suspected cases of the virus of which 358 tested negative while 137 others have pending results.

--Report from Chrisel Almonia, ABS-CBN News