Amid rising COVID-19 cases, NTF to evaluate ‘ground level’ response in Cebu

MASS TESTING Health personnel conduct mass testing at the barangay level in Cebu City amid the rise of cases in at least four urban poor communities in the city. óCEBU CITY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) has instructed the National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 to evaluate the “ground-level” response in Cebu City as coronavirus cases in the area continue to surge, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Saturday.

“Inatasan ang National Task Force na i-evaluate ang ground level response ng Cebu City simula Lunes para magkaroon ng mas magaling na calibrated response,” Roque, who also serves as IATF spokesman, said during the Laging Handa online press briefing.

(The National Task Force has been tasked to evaluate the ground level response in Cebu City starting Monday in order to have a more calibrated response.)

Roque added that this includes studying the possibility of establishing NTF emergency operations center, as well as the designation of a Visayas Deputy Implementer for Region 7, where Cebu City is located, and the whole of Visayas.

Another point, Roque said, is the establishment of outpatient services in temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMFs).

“Pangalawa, ang paglalagay ng outpatient services sa mga temporary treatment at monitoring facilities dahil sa mababang utilization ng TFMM at pagtaas ng isolated individuals sa bahay,” Roque said.

(Second is the establishment of outpatient services in temporary treatment and monitoring facilities because of the low utilization of TTFMs and the rise of  isolated individuals at home.)

Also included is the harmonization of regional and national data among the Department of Health (DOH), Department of the Interior and Local Government and the NTF; improvement of the management of locally stranded individuals and the strict and uniform implementation of health standards in public places.

Currently, Cebu City is under enhanced community quarantine as COVID-19 in the city continues to rise.

According to data provided on the nCOV tracker of the DOH, Region 7 has 4,956 COVID-19 cases. Of this number, 3,317 is found in Cebu City alone.

In total, the Philippines has 28,459 COVID-19 cases, with 7,378 recoveries and 1,130 fatalities.