Año says gov't to intensify contact tracing efforts amid COVID-19 crisis

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Wednesday said the government would intensify its contact tracing efforts by hiring additional contact tracing members to combat COVID-19 pandemic.

During the pre-SONA forum and press conference, Año said that at present, the country has 4,818 contact tracing teams or a total of 65,574 contact tracers nationwide.

"Kailangan pa rin natin ng around 80,000 na contact tracers kung kaya't tayo ay magre-recruit, magha-hire ng additional 50,000 contact tracing members na itatalaga natin sa iba't ibang panig ng Pilipinas. Hinihintay lang natin ang budget nito," Año said.

"Sisiguraduhin natin na makikipag-ugnayan tayo sa community at siguraduhin natin na matrace natin at maitest natin at finally, maisolate natin. So for the coming days, weeks and months, lalo pa tayong magpapaigting at inaasahan natin mayroon pa tayong mabibigyan ng trabaho kapag nakapaghire tayo ng additonal 50,000 contact tracers," he added.

According to Año, there should be contact tracing teams focusing barangays, and business centers.

He noted that recruiting contact tracers has been ongoing in Cebu and in the National Capital Region, where there are huge numbers of COVID-19 cases. 

At present, Año said the government is focused in containing emerging cases particularly those in Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Central Luzon, Central Visayas, and Region VIII.

Localized lockdowns would also continue, he added.

The government official said the agency would continue to assist local government units in continuing the fight against COVID-19 while still looking after the economy.

"Bibigyan natin ng pansin 'yung pagbalanse sa economy atsaka sa health natin," Año said. — LBG/RSJ, GMA News