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Bicol IATF puts up contingency plan to curb Covid-19 spread

By Mar Serrano

August 6, 2020, 8:26 pm

<p>Dr. Ernie Vera, DOH-Bicol regional director <em>(PNA file photo)</em></p>

Dr. Ernie Vera, DOH-Bicol regional director (PNA file photo)

LEGAZPI CITY – The Bicol Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) said contingency measures are now in place to address the surging cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) as a result of the influx of thousands of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) returning back home to various provinces in the region.

Dr. Ernie Vera, regional director of the Department of Health (DOH) in Bicol who is also BIATF vice chairman, said that without these measures, Covid-19 cases here could reach 1,200 by January next year.

Vera, at a news briefing here on Thursday, said among the measures that would stop the increasing trend of Covid-19 cases include the issuance of stricter guidelines on the entry of LSIs in various Bicol borders, intensifying contact tracing in towns and cities down to the barangay level, and setting up of additional quarantine and isolation facilities in every locality.

"The trending showed that in March, we have recorded seven confirmed cases and only nearly 40 cases in June, and as of July 5, it recorded 77 active case, a 57-percent increase due to the LSI influx," he said.

“Previously, we recorded one to three cases in every two days. This has critically risen to 10 cases per day, but yesterday (Wednesday) we have recorded 39 cases, the highest number so far since the onset last March. This was due to the arrival of LSIs which according to health front-liners, some of them were tested positive for Covid-19,” Vera added.

He also said the increasing trend could worsen if arriving LSIs have not properly undergone Covid swab test and other health procedures before they are allowed to travel. "Rapid test administered by local government are unreliable as compared to the swab test managed by the DOH,” he said.

DOH tracker showed that from March 17 to August 5, a total of 551 confirmed Covid-19 cases were recorded in Bicol, out of which 286 are active cases, with 251 recoveries and 14 deaths.

Moreover, the BIATF, in close coordination with provincial, town and city IATFs, continuously initiates the “Detect, Test, Isolate, Treat,” strategy.

The regional task force, however, said despite the increasing trend in Covid-19 cases, there is still no local or community transmission of the disease.

The DOH-Bicol can serve 455 test results a day while there is 464 total Covid-19 bed capacity of which 39 are intensive care units across the region. There are also 27 mechanical ventilator machines available in 17 public and private hospitals.

A 30-percent utilization rate of the total Covid-19 bed capacity has been posted and only four percent for the mechanical ventilators.

Meanwhile, policemen arrested at least 36 individuals on Wednesday night inside a billiard hall for violating health standards under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) guidelines in Casiguran town, Sorsogon province.

Maj. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, spokesperson of the Bicol police, said most of the arrested suspects were either playing billiards while the others were just viewing the games at a billiard hall in Barangay Central at around 6:20 p.m.

The report said police operatives rounded up the violators including Neil Carlo Gaspacho, 33, the owner of the billiard hall. (PNA)

 

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