BY GENALYN KABILING
The government has ordered the deployment of teams to visit houses and workplaces in critical areas to detect people with coronavirus illness and trace their close contacts.
The movement of Finding Active Cases Teams (FACTS) and Contact Tracing Teams (CTTs) for active surveillance and case finding is among the measures directed by the IATF to local government units to effectively contain the spread of the coronavirus.
The IATF decision came after President Duterte approved the general community quarantine status of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal until the end of the month.
“Finding Active Cases Teams (FACTs) shall visit homes of non-case, non-contacts within the critical and containment zone of the priority area to investigate if possibly a suspect case or contact of a known suspect, probable or confirmed case resides in the area,” the IATF said in Resolution No. 64.
“Contact Tracing Teams (CTTs) shall coordinate or visit homes and workplaces to complete and verify profiles of suspect, probable, confirmed cases and their contacts,” it said.
The two teams must identify “eligible” patients for RT-PCR testing and endorse them to the swabbing team for collection of specimens, according to the IATF.
Patients identified for referral to hospitals will be assisted through the One Hospital Command Center in National Capital or through the existing referral network in other areas, the task force added.
Apart from active case surveillance, the IATF has directed all provinces and cities to strictly enforce other containment strategies such as the localized community quarantine in places with community transmission.
Minimum public health standards must also be implemented particularly in high risk areas such as healthcare settings, wet markets, supermarkets, government offices, workplaces, public transportation, and areas with increased economic activity, among others. (Genalyn Kabiling)
