By Patricia T. Bermudez October 9, 2020 Swab testing. (Photo from AdvocatesOmi) ...
October 9, 2020
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| Swab testing. (Photo from AdvocatesOmi) |
CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – With the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 all eyes in CALABARZON amid the region’s rising infection rate, the Regional Task Force (RTF) Against COVID-19 has launched an aggressive community testing efforts in Batangas to expand its detection, isolation and treatment capacity.
With a goal to release swab results within 24 to 48 hours, the aggressive community testing is seen to expedite the national government’s Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treatment-Reintegration (PDITR) strategy in preventing the virus from spreading, especially in Batangas province.
The testing conducted in coordination of the Provincial Government of Batangas and the Batangas Provincial Task Force Against COVID-19 started Saturday, October 3 and will end Tuesday, October 6. It carry out about 1,500 tests per day in a bid to stop the spread of the disease.
Currently, the province of Batangas has three testing centers located at Dream Zone, Capitol Compound in Batangas City; Laurel Memorial District Hospital in Tanauan City; and, Don Manuel Lopez District Hospital in Balayan, Batangas.
As of Monday, October 5, confirmed cases count in Batangas has reached 7,309. Of the total number, 4,252 patients have recovered while 176 succumbed the disease, bringing down the active confirmed cases to 2,881.
Testing capacity
With the region’s continuously rising infections, the RTF aims to increase its testing capacity and conduct the same aggressive community testing in other CALABARZON provinces in the coming weeks.
According to Office of Civil Defense (OCD) CALABARZON, chair of the RTF, it is closely working with the different provincial and local COVID task forces in the region for the conduct of the aggressive testing. It also called on LGUs to support the NTF initiative saying it is an opportunity to fight COVID-19.
Civil Defense Officer Randy dela Paz said LGUs can help by allotting well-ventilated venues, such as sports complex and gymnasiums, that can accommodate hundreds of swabbers and test subjects daily.
Dela Paz added that although the IATF sees no need to hire additional medical technologists as they already have their own, the RTF through the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 4A is looking to hire around 4,810 contact tracers, who will help the task force in identifying the infected patients’ close contact, as well as maintaining their database by providing accurate data and information.
‘No Home Quarantine’ Policy
With the tourism and hospitality sectors on hold, the Regional Task Force aims to decongest overcrowded government facilities, such as the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna, by utilizing hotels to house asymptomatic patients.
Despite boosting the region’s testing and treatment capability, the Inter Agency Task Force maintains its advise against home quarantine, following the advice of Presidential Peace Adviser and NTF chief implementor Carlito Galvez Jr. against the practice, citing reports of a significant drop in new cases in other regions where home quarantine is prohibited. (PTB/FSC)
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