DILG to intensify active case finding, contact tracing amid rising COVID cases

MANILA, Philippines — Amid a surge in coronavirus cases, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Community Response Cluster were tasked to ramp up contact tracing up to the third generation of COVID-19 patients in areas under Alert Level 2.

“They have likewise been directed to intensify active case finding in the NCR Plus areas and to intensify active case finding and contact tracing strictly up to the 3rd generation in all areas under Alert Level 2,” Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said in a statement on Sunday.

The NCR Plus is composed of the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and Laguna. These areas are under Alert Level 3.

Aside from the intensified contact tracing, the DILG and the Community Response Cluster will ensure that individuals undergoing home isolation or quarantine are monitored by Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams.

They should also guarantee the access to testing, treatment, and facility referral of those in the vulnerable sectors, especially senior citizens and persons with comorbidities.

They were also tasked to “ensure that Emergency Operations Centers with functional triage areas are in place in all local government units.”

“These shall oversee patient navigation so that only those needing hospitalization are brought to the health facilities,” Nograles said.

On Sunday, the DOH logged 28,707 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily tally since the pandemic started.

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