Taguig City officials led by Mayor Lino Edgardo Cayetano have turned over to the city’s Health Office the anti COVID-19 drugs intended for patients infected by the deadly virus.
The local government-procured 10,000 capsules of COVID-19 medicine Molnupiravir will be distributed to health centers in the city to give to COVID-19 patients under prescription.
During the turn-over held late last week, Mayor Cayetano highlighted the importance of the medicine in helping the efforts of the city to bring down the hospitalization.
“Despite of the continuous surge, Taguig has low rates of hospitalization. With this new medicine, we assume that severe cases will be avoided,” said he said.
Taguig residents infected with COVID-19 may ask for the anti-viral drug by calling the Telemedicine of their barangays. Patients will then be assessed by a doctor and would evaluate the situation. If a patient needs the pill, it would be delivered right at their doorstep free of charge.
According to the Institute of Clinical Epidemology, National Institute of Health, Molnupiravir is used to treat confirmed COVID patients who are 18 years old and above, with five days of mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms and with at least one risk factor for progression.
This medicine shall allow patients to be taken care of properly and prevent hospitalization. One or more signs and symptoms of COVID 19 include: Fever, Chills, Fatigue, Loss of Smell, Loss of Taste, Diarrhea, Sore Throat, Cough, Headache, Muscle or Body Aches, Vomiting, Nasal Congestion, Nausea, and Rhinorrhea.
The risk factors for progression include: Individuals age 60 years old and above, Active cancer, Chronic Kidney Disease, Chronic Pulmonary Disease, Obesity, Serious heart conditions, and Diabetes Mellitus.
Cayetano said Taguig was consistent in its holistic approach of taking care of the patients in the city by providing COVID-19 home care packages together with telemedicine hotlines and closely monitoring the patients in the isolation facilities or even at home.
“The availability of the Molnupiravir medicine and the existing COVID-19 programs accessible to the public to help against the virus shows how we adjust to the changing times in the new normal,” he said.
As of Jan. 23, the Taguig City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CEDSU) recorded 56,807 cases of COVID-19, 441 deaths and 55,767 recoveries.
