Gov’t eyes hiring 50,000 contact tracers in July

Posted at Jun 11 2020 05:51 PM

MANILA – The government plans to hire some 50,000 contact tracers next month, Malacañang said Thursday as it moves to boost its COVID-19 pandemic response.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government will start the initial hiring process next month, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said.

“July po ang target nila na mag-hire. Initially, they will hire 50,000 tracers,” Roque said in a Palace press briefing.

(They plan to hire some 50,000 by July.)

Roque earlier said the government is eyeing to tap out-of-work jeepney drivers for contact tracing.

Contact tracing is usually initiated after COVID-19 test results are confirmed and sent to local epidemiology offices, a process that takes 13 days from the time the patient goes to a hospital.

The Department of Health earlier said the Philippines needs some 95,000 more contact tracers to meet the World Health Organization’s standard for the Philippines to have 1 contact tracer for every 800 people.

As of June 11, the Philippines has confirmed 24,175 COVID-19 cases. This includes 1,036 deaths and 5,165 recoveries.

SOURCE: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/11/20/govt-eyes-hiring-50000-contact-tracers-in-july