WHO: PH must improve efforts to find COVID-19 transmission sources | Inquirer News

WHO: PH must improve efforts to find COVID-19 transmission sources

By: - Reporter / @KAguilarINQ
/ 04:24 PM March 22, 2021

WHO: PH must improve efforts to find COVID-19 transmission sources

Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO representative to the Philippines. INQUIRER.net file photo / Cathrine Gonzales

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines should make better its probing efforts to determine sources of COVID-19 infections as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to swell, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Philippine representative Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe said Monday.

In a televised briefing, Abeyasinghe also said the Philippines should strengthen its COVID-19 testing and contact tracing.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Where is the transmission actually happening? Is it limited to social gatherings in families or among friends? Is it also being driven by gatherings at worksites and dormitories?” Abeyasinghe said.

FEATURED STORIES

“This kind of investigation at the local government level is critically important so that we identify those mass-amplifying events and do everything possible to minimize the occurrence and the repeat occurrence of such situations,” he added.

By doing this, Abeyasinghe said the public could be informed how to protect themselves from these sources of COVID-19 transmission.

Article continues after this advertisement

“This is an area that we have not been able to strengthen over the last few months. Maybe this is an opportunity for us to focus on that and identify those settings where we see transmission happening and to share that information with the public so that the public could avoid those places and protect themselves more effectively,” he said.

Article continues after this advertisement

The government has imposed stricter restrictions on Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal creating a “bubble” of general community quarantine (GCQ)until April 4 in a bid to suppress the quickly rising COVID-19 cases.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: FAQs: What’s a GCQ bubble?

Among the measures revived was barring non-essential travel to and from the mentioned GCQ areas or “GCQ bubble,” prohibiting religious gatherings, and imposing a common curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. but excluding workers.

Article continues after this advertisement

RELATED STORIES

Tourism, staycation within ‘GCQ bubble’ allowed – PNP OIC Eleazar

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

LIST: PNP sets up 20 quarantine control points in Greater Metro Manila area

KGA

For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.

The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link.

TAGS: Coronavirus, coronavirus Philippines, COVID-19, Health, pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, Virus, WHO

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.