MMDA cites Pasay's best practices to decrease COVID-19 cases

The head of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority cited the Pasay government's efforts to decrease the sudden rise of COVID-19 infections in its locality, noting that other local government units should emulate these best practices.

Citing figures from the Pasay health office, MMDA chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. said the city's active cases decreased from 987 last March 24 to 902 last March 27. This March 29, the city's active virus infections dropped to 888.

To halt further contagion of the virus in its communities, Abalos said Pasay imposed granular lock down  on 136 areas and total lockdowns on two villages.

The city government also ramped up its mass testing from 6,472 swab tests conducted in February to 17,000 in March, the MMDA chief said.

According to Abalos, Pasay, where the South African variant of COVID-19 was also detected, also spent much of its funds to reduce the transmission of the virus.

"It took Pasay one month, siya nagpapakain, massive swabbing, massive testing.. ang laki ng nagastos ng Pasay. Isang buwan itong gamutan," Abalos said.

"Ibig sabihin itong isang buwan na pinaghirapan nila na halos lockdown. Kaya ang gagawin natin sa bayan natin parang ganito po," he added.

Last March 2, the health department said the city's two-week case growth rose to 386% while average COVID-19 daily attack rate went up to 24.7 per 100,000 population. The health department also said 91% of barangays in the city  were affected by COVID-19.

Four cases of the South Africa variant, which has an effect on vaccine efficacy, were detected at Pasay City in early March this year. 

Metro Manila and nearby provinces were placed under enhanced community quarantine until April 4 to arrest the continued rise of COVID-19 cases. These areas are tagged as hotspots for the coronavirus disease infection. —LDF, GMA News