Contact Tracing Czar and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Tuesday admitted that more measures have to be undertaken to ensure intensified implementation of contact tracing.
Magalong disclosed several reasons behind the productivity of tracers to meet the ideal ratio of one case to 30 to 37 contacts for urban setting and one case to 25 to 30 contacts for rural areas.
“Una, walang proper na cascading. Naituro mo roon sa mga trainers ng provincial and regional level pero hindi na-cascade sa munisipyo (First, there is no proper cascading. After teaching trainers at the provincial and regional level, they are not passed on to the municipal level),” Magalong pointed out.
There is also a lack in encoders, resulting in logging of incomplete data despite having actually traced some contacts and the provision of data collection and analytical tools.
“Kapag hindi properly used, hindi ginagamit, nakakalimutang gamitin (If it’s not properly used and not being used, they forget how to utilize it),” Magalong said.
The need for more contact tracers was also brought up since they are overwhelmed by the daily number of cases and are “tired, exhausted, and mentally pressured and physically pressured.” Magalong revealed there will be “recapacitating” on the side of LGUs to intensify contact tracing measures.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is now consolidating local governments in need of assistance and those volunteering to receive mentoring.
“We are working with WHO para maisama na ulit doon sa isang contact tracing manual natin on how to conduct ‘yung second to third generation contact tracing (We are working with the WHO to include in the contact tracing manual the conduct of second and third generation contact tracing),” he reported. – AG, PTV News Online
