DOH says two-week ‘timeout’ was maximized

Published Aug 19, 2020 6:19:20 PM

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 19) — The government was able to “maximize” the time during which Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces went under strict movement restrictions that enabled authorities to recalibrate infection control strategies, the Department of Health said Wednesday.

Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire told an online forum the DOH and the coronavirus task force were able to “go on the ground” to assess the impact of COVID-19 in communities while Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, and Bulacan were under modified enhanced community quarantine from August 4 to 18.

Vergeire said they talked to local chief executives to clarify their roles on how to stop the COVID-19 transmission in communities.

Vergeire also said they introduced the Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic or CODE protocol, which aims to bring back a “health-focused, driven approach in responding to COVID-19” by providing stronger support to local governments which need it the most.

Part of the protocol is for CODE teams to go house to house in high-risk communities, checking if anyone has COVID-19 symptoms, and testing those who do. Those who tested positive will be immediately isolated as well as treated if need be.

Vergeire expressed hope the local governments will follow suit and do active case finding as well.

On August 1, the medical community asked President Rodrigo Duterte to reimpose strict enhanced community quarantine in Mega Manila for two weeks, noting the need to “recalibrate strategies” since the response at the time was not able to bring COVID-19 under control.

Duterte made a compromise by placing Mega Manila under MECQ for 15 days.

SOURCE: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/8/19/DOH-two-week-timeout-maximized.html