Año urged LGUs to remain vigilant

May 13, 2020

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Wednesday urged all local government units (LGUs) not to let their guard down, and sustain the gains in controlling the spread of COVID-19 following the health department’s official findings that the country is beginning to flatten the curve.

“We are now beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel as the government’s efforts and the cooperation of the citizens against COVID-19 are now bearing fruit.  Let’s continue our sacrifice  and discipline so that the virus will not spread,” Año said.

He emphasized “this is not yet the end of the road” as the national government and LGUs need to continue boosting their contact tracing efforts and improving their critical care infrastructure and facilities in order to cater to COVID-19 suspects and confirmed cases.

“Sustained round-the-clock operations by implementing stringent health and public safety measures are the key to win the war against COVID-19 virus. Keep your respective areas of jurisdictions safe and secure at all times, never letting your guards down until we have discovered the vaccine for this virus for only then can we be assured of our victory,” Año said.

Año  reminded the public that it’s not time to be lenient as the country is preventing a “second wave” of COVID-19 cases.

The Department of Health said it has findings of longer case-doubling time, lesser number of deaths, recoveries are dramatically improving, and a 10 percent positivity rate which shows the country has begun to flatten the curve.

The Philippines registered a 10 percent test positivity rate in early May or 13,655 persons tested positive from the total 136,169 persons tested, from 17 percent in early April.

Año  said LGUs should continue to put up swabbing centers and testing centers with hospital and medical care institutions.

He added that they expected to designate more quarantine facilities for COVID-19 suspected and probable cases.

On top of these, LGUs should have more trained contact tracing teams who will take charge of tracing the contacts of confirmed Covid-19 cases.

“Local governments from the provincial down to the barangay level have a big role to play in our COVID-19 battle,” Año said.

Año also called on the police and other frontliners in-charge of manning the checkpoints and assisting the DSWD in giving financial assistance from the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) and in distributing relief goods to make sure physical distancing and mandatory wearing of face masks and other measures are enforced.

“Whether we are at ECQ or General Community Quarantine, the same protocols apply.  We should already be adapting to the new normal until we find a vaccine for coronavirus,” he said. Ella Dionisio/DMS