Contact tracing ability in NCR at 76% - DILG chief

The contact tracing ability in the National Capital Region is already at 76%, according to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday.

"Sa tracing po natin, ang overall natin ay maganda na, umabot na tayo sa 96%, 'yung tinatawag na contact tracing ability. Dito po sa Metro Manila, nasa 76% po tayo," Año said during a press briefing in Malacañang.

"Ano po ang ibig sabihin noon? Ang ibig sabihin noon ay sa 100 na positive, mayroon pa po tayong hindi nate-trace na 24% at ito po ay kailangan nating pag-ibayuhing mahanap," he added.

Año believes that the contact tracing in Metro Manila has improved, however, he insisted that quarantine protocols must still be in place to curb the spread of COVID-19.

"Malaking improvement ang ating contact tracing. Because of contact tracing, nag-improve 'yung ating sitwasyon... Pero ganoon pa man, kailangan pa rin natin ang kondisyon ng quarantine para sigurado na hindi malipat sa iba ang virus," he said.

Metro Manila has shifted from modified enhanced community quarantine to general community quarantine, meaning more industries are now open to the public as well as the availability of limited mass transportation for commuters.

Earlier, the government official said there are at least 150 contact tracing teams in Metro Manila. On a nationwide scale, Año said there are 4,000 contact tracing teams with more or less 40,000 contact tracers.

The government is still planning to hire additional 50,000 to 100,000 contact tracers.—AOL, GMA News