By CHITO CHAVEZ
Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said Sunday that contact tracers hired to serve local government units have remained COVID-19 free.
Malaya dispelled fears that some CTs are bound to get the virus due to their close contact with suspected COVID-19 patients and those already afflicted with the virus.
“We have no reports of any of our DILG contact tracers being infected (with COVID-19),’’ Malaya said.
Malaya noted that the DILG hired CTs were properly trained “so they know how to protect themselves.’’
Malaya said the DILG has hired 48,074 CTs for LGUs across the country, 96.15 percent of its target of 50,000 CTs nationwide.
“We intend to complete the 50,000 quota by next week,’’ he added.
The hiring and deployment of the 50,000 CTs in various LGUs is mandated under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act which reinforces the government’s contact-tracing efforts.
Some of their responsibilities are to conduct interviews, profiling, and perform an initial public health risk assessment of COVID-19 cases and their identified close contacts; refer the close contacts to isolation facilities; conduct enhanced contact tracing in collaboration with other agencies and private sector; conduct daily monitoring of close and general contacts for at least 14 days, and perform other COVID-19 related response tasks.
Contact tracers are paid a minimum of P18,784 per month on a contract of service basis.
