CONTACT TRACERS, VIRUS TEST ‘SWABBERS’ DEPLOYED IN CEBU
CEBU CITY—MORE contact tracing teams and “swabbers” were deployed in the different villages in Cebu City as it ramps up measures against the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Police Brig. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro, director of the Central Visayas police, said 39 more contact tracing teams were added to the existing 40 groups that were tasked to find those infected with the virus.
He said the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) hoped to create 40 more contact tracing teams with the help of the Bureau of Fire Protection.
As advised by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, the country’s new contact tracing chief, a contact tracing team should have a doctor, nurse, health worker and a police investigator and must only handle one or two COVID-19 cases so they would not be overwhelmed.
The teams have been accompanied by police officers during their house visits since last week.
Ferro said the public had nothing to be afraid of since the contact tracing teams as well as its police escorts would just drop by houses with individuals who engaged with COVID-19 patients.
“The presence of policemen is being exaggerated as if it’s like a ‘tokhang.’ No. That’s not the case. It will be a simple interviewing of concerned persons,” he said.
The police general, however, urged the public to cooperate otherwise they could face charges for violating Republic Act No. 11332, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.
“I encourage the Cebuanos to help and collaborate because that’s the only way to graduate from ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) or MECQ (modified enhanced community quarantine). If we could cooperate, we can arrest the spike of COVID-19 cases,” Ferro said.
Aside from the contact tracers, the government also tapped “swabbers,” or those tasked to take swab tests from persons.
Crucial role
In a press statement, the IATF in the Visayas said it deployed at least 26 swabbers in the city.
Retired Maj. Gen. Mel Feliciano, who is assisting Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu in leading the fight against COVID-19 in Cebu, said the swabbers play a crucial role in the battle against the virus.
“Since we are doing massive contact tracing, there will be more persons that need to be swabbed. Before, we only had five contact tracing teams, so there were backlogs. Now, our system will improve,” he said.