CEBU CITY NEEDS TO HIRE 270 MORE CONTACT TRACERS

THE Cebu City Government is in need of additional contact tracers who will be deployed in the city’s 80 barangays to speed up its efforts to trace individuals suspected of contracting the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

As of Friday, July 3, 2020, the City has hired 130 contact tracers, said City Administrator Floro Casas Jr., but 270 more are needed.

Casas said the City is targeting to deploy one team composed of five members for each barangay.

Applicants only need to visit the Human Resource Development Office of the Cebu City Hall to submit their personal data sheet.

The City is looking to hire college graduates who have a medical background, Casas said.

Contact tracers will be paid a daily rate by the City, Casas added.

However, he did not disclose the amount.

For his part, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said some of the contact tracers have started their training.

Labella said contact tracers are among the most essential components in the fight against the Covid-19.

Last July 1, Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Albert Ignatius Ferro said a technical team from Baguio City would be sent to Cebu City to train the contact tracers.

Ferro said he sought the help of his former superior, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, to train the tracer teams at the PRO 7 starting next week.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, in the same press conference, said Cebu City needs to conduct aggressive contact tracing and active case finding to slow down the transmission of the coronavirus.

Duque said through these measures, Cebu City can overcome the Covid-19 crisis.