COVID search: Cops going house-to-house
State security forces will conduct a house-to-house search for coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 patients who are under home quarantine in a bid to transfer them to isolation facilities managed by the government, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año announced yesterday.
Año said police officers and representatives from local government units (LGUs) would carry out the search.
He said COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms are no longer allowed to recuperate on their own if their homes do not have a room where they can properly isolate themselves.
“We’ll go house-to-house and bring positive COVID-19 patients to our isolation facilities,” Año said in Filipino at a press briefing in Taguig City.
The government has discouraged home quarantine for COVID-19 patients to reduce the risk of spreading the virus within their households.
According to the Department of Health, asymptomatic as well as those with mild COVID cases can undergo home quarantine provided they have their own room and bathroom.
Secretary Vince Dizon, deputy chief implementer of the government’s COVID-19 response, said a COVID patient may be allowed to undergo home quarantine under certain conditions.
First, a patient’s house should have a separate room with a bathroom so the
infected individual can avoid mingling with other members of the household.
Dizon said there should be no elderly or persons with underlying medical conditions such as asthma, heart ailment or diabetes within the family.
Año appealed to the public to report their virus-infected neighbors who are “hiding” in their homes. He warned COVID-19 patients they could face sanctions for violating Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act if they would not cooperate with the authorities.
He said non-compliance could lead to apprehensions because you are endangering the lives of our countrymen.
Sought for comment, Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said they would exercise diplomacy and convince COVID-19 patients to transfer to quarantine facilities.
“We’ll talk to them first. Last option will be filing a case,” he said in a phone interview.
Eleazar added that people with COVID-19 should not be treated as criminals but as patients in need of medical attention.
Año assured the public that there are enough amenities for COVID-19 patients such as free food and internet while they undergo quarantine in isolation facilities for 14 days.
He said LGUs should enact ordinances that would instill discipline so people would follow health and safety protocols.
“I encourage LGUs from provincial to barangay councils to make use of their legislative power to enact ordinances on discipline as the new normal to beat COVID-19,” Año said.
With the national government easing quarantine restrictions to jumpstart the economy, Año said local officials should institute measures to promote discipline among their constituents.
Health safety protocols include wearing of face masks in public places, sanitizing hands, observing physical distancing and cough etiquette as well as staying indoors for children and senior citizens.
With a limited police force, Año said the government could not monitor the movement of every individual in the country.
“Police cannot do it alone in making sure that all continue to follow health safety practices. Every Filipino must do his responsibility,” he said.
The PNP launched “Disiplina Muna” campaign to promote discipline as the country is grappling with the pandemic. The campaign seeks to rebuild the culture of discipline among Filipinos to foster people’s participation as one of the tenets of good governance.
Business compliance
Meanwhile, about 4,062 business establishments in the National Capital Region have complied with the interim guidelines on workplace prevention and control of COVID-19, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said yesterday.
The DOLE and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) inspected 5,049 companies in Metro Manila from June 8 to July 1 and reported an overall 80 percent compliance rate.
“When we say compliant, that means the employer has established health and safety protocols in the workplace,” DOLE NCR director Sarah Buena Mirasol said.
The health measures include wearing of face masks, maintaining physical distance of one meter at all times, daily checking and recording of workers’ temperature, visitors answering health symptoms questionnaire and ensuring sanitation and disinfection process in work areas and outside office premises, among others.
Among the industries monitored by the government are accommodation and food services, wholesale and retail trade, vehicle repair shops, manufacturing firms and administrative and support services.
The DOLE and DTI are mandated to extend assistance and technical support to workers and employers to curb the spread of the virus in workplaces.
“The COVID-19 pandemic poses major challenges and adjustments for businesses so our approach is to continue providing employers with technical assistance,” Mirasol said.