STRATEGIZING COVID SURVEILLANCE: Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago, Dr. Renely Tungol, Dr. Miguel Salazar and Dr. Alvin Peñafiel engage in discussions at Tiburcio Hall, May 04, 2020. They are also joined by City Accountant Giselle Rivera and other City Health Office personnel.
To control the further spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in the City of San Fernando, the local government unit (LGU), thru its Task Force Surveillance, will be identifying “high-risk areas” in the capital city.
Thru a prevalence survey, the Rural health Units (RHUs) will determine the first five high-risk barangays.
According to Dr. renely Tungol, Incident Commander and City Infectious Disease Coordinator, the survey will be based on the poverty threshold and population density of the barangays.
“Malaking bagay na ma-identify natin itong mga high-risk areas. Ito ang mga barangay na may maraming population, maraming mahihirap na nagtra-trabaho pa rin kahit [may enhanced community quarantine]. Thus, increasing their exposure and the possibility for them to be infected with the virus,” the officer said.
Confirmed and suspect-patients from the high-risk areas will be first tested using the anti-body test kits.
If found positive, they will be referred to the Green City Medical Center for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. If found negative, they will be again tested after 14 days.
“Free iyong anti-body test kits kasi they were donated to us. Yung PCR naman, PhilHealth will be helping in the payment,” Tungol assured.
The prevalence survey is expected to start next week and testing will commence the following week.
For his part, Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago thanked pulmonologist, Dr. Alvin Peñafiel of GCMC, and Dr. Miguel Salazar, member of Philippine Society of Public Health Physician, for sharing their knowledge and expertise in helping the city improve its COVID-19 surveillance.
“Identification is the first step. That is why we are strategizing. We have to identify the infected and separate them from the non-infected. That way, we can contain the virus and avoid the spread to a greater number of Fernandinos,” Santiago said.
