ALERT UP. Department of Health-Caraga Region director Jose Llacuna Jr. assures Tuesday (Mar 10, 2020) that all stakeholders in the health sector are ready and that measures to prevent the potential spread of the 2019 coronavirus disease have been strengthened. Local governments in the region have also stepped up their preventive measures against the disease. (PNA file photo by Alexander Lopez)
BUTUAN CITY – Following the declaration of a national health emergency, various government line agencies and local government units (LGUs) in the Caraga Region have heightened their preparations to prevent the potential spread of the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the area.
“We already convened our stakeholders, the chiefs of hospitals both public and private to check their preparedness,” said Dr. Jose Llacuna Jr., the regional director of the Department of Health in Caraga Region (DOH-13).
Llacuna told the Philippine News Agency on Tuesday that isolation wards and dedicated areas for Covid-19 patients in government hospitals have been established.
“We also told private hospitals in the region that the DOH will provide them with protective equipment,” Llacuna said.
As of Monday, Caraga has nine patients under monitoring (PUMs).
Meanwhile, the Department of Education in the region (DepEd-13) has "indefinitely" postponed the scheduled Caraga Regional Athletic Meet on March 13 in Siargao Island.
In a statement, DepEd-13 said the postponement was in accordance with a department memorandum by the DepEd central office.
Following the postponement of the regional sporting event, Surigao del Norte First District Rep. Francisco Jose “Bingo” Matugas said the decision was primarily aimed at the safety of athletes and coaches.
In Surigao del Sur, Gov. Alexander Pimentel called for an emergency meeting on Monday to review the province's response measures on Covid-19.
Surigao del Sur Provincial Police Office (SDSPPO) director Col. James Goforth said the Philippine National Police (PNP) was tasked to support the monitoring of potential Covid-19 cases in the province.
“We are on the monitoring and containment in case there is a suspected case of Covid-19,” Goforth said.
In Agusan del Sur, Governor Santiago Cane Jr. issued an executive order establishing precautionary measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the province.
Cane said the directive also seeks to intensify the infection control measures in all public and private health facilities in Agusan del Sur. (PNA)
