MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Predicting that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) just might carry over well beyond this year, the local government of Quezon City on Thursday created a task force to oversee the city’s treatment and management of cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte underscored the need to create “Task Force COVID-19” to supervise the city’s battle against the viral disease following pronouncements of health authorities to prepare for the “new normal” phase.
Task Force COVID-19 will be chaired by Quezon City Administrator Michael Victor Alimurung and co-chaired by City Health Department chief, DR. Esperanza Arias, with member-agencies from the Investment Affairs Office, Department of Public Order and Safety, Barangay and Community Relations Department, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the Quezon City Police District, and representatives from the Quezon City General Hospital, Rosario Maclang Bautista General Hospital, and Novaliches District Hospital.
Among the functions of the task force is to engage in widespread testing and contact tracing and quarantine of suspect, probable or confirmed COVID-19 cases, on an individual, neighborhood or community level.
“It is also tasked to oversee the treatment and case management efforts and lead the way in preventing the further spread of the virus through disinfection and promotion of public hygiene and precautionary measures,” Arias said.
Each barangay is asked to send at least two citizens which will be trained by QCHD’s Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (ESU) to become a contact tracing personnel of the task force.
The task force is also authorized to procure state of the art equipment and facilities for testing, including laboratories and other relevant resources to effectively perform its mandate. (Jim Mendoza)