The Parañaque City government has formed a special team to conduct extensive mass testing and contact tracing following the surge of COVID-19 cases in the city for the past two weeks.
Mayor Edwin Olivarez also tapped city chief health officer Dr. Olga Virtusio to continue the administration of actions against the dreaded disease on a long-term basis.
As of Saturday last, Paranaque had 827 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 547 recoveries and 50 fatalities.
Of the number, 230 or 27. 8 percent active cases.
Barangay San Dionisio still accounts for the most number of coronavirus cases, having a total 132 confirmed cases. Baclaran is the second barangay with the highest number of confirmed cases with 90 with 44 active cases.
The streets in Barangay San Dionisio and Baclaran were recently placed under a three-day calibrated lockdown after the city health office reported that about 100 individuals there had been infected.
Olivarez encouraged personnel of the city health office and other frontliners to continue the fight against COVID-19, adding being the leaders of the community, they were essential in making sure constituents were one with the city government in fighting the pandemic.
He said to flatten the curve, expansion of the capacity of the healthcare system in the city and the increase in testing capacity must be prioritized.
Olivarez believed that the battle against COVID-19 was expected to be extended indefinitely—maybe one to two years more.
“The primary goal of the COVID-19 response is to reduce COVID-19 related deaths as well as non-COVID deaths,” according to the mayor, adding the strategy of the city government should be aligned with the national government plan to prevent, detect, isolate, and treat COVID-19.
He said contact tracing and surveillance had very important roles in fighting the disease.
Aside from the existing task force, Virtusio formed a new group of health personnel that would solely be engaged in widespread testing and contact tracing and quarantine of suspect, probable or confirmed COVID-19 cases, on an individual, neighborhood or community level.
He expressed appreciation to the barangay chairmen and councilmen and dedicated frontliners who are until now committed to protect their respective areas against COVID-19.
Olivarez also reminded his constituents that under the new normal, everyone was obliged to observe wearing face mask, social distancing and regular disinfection.