Only 0.068% of LGUs show good contact tracing capability —Magalong

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, the government's "contact tracing czar," on Thursday said only 0.068% of local government units (LGUs) have an established contact-tracing capability, citing the results of a diagnostic survey.

In a Palace briefing, Magalong said that he gave the questionnaire to around 8,100 LGUs but only over 600 have responded.

“Nakakalungkot lang po na talagang napakababa po ng ating contact tracing. 0.068 percent from 600 plus na nag-respond ay talagang meron silang established na contact-tracing capability,” he said.

Magalong has been holding trainings in different regions to improve the contact tracing capabilities of LGUs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As of this date, ang nabisita na nating lugar sa iba’t ibang regions sa buong bansa ay six regions,” he said.

Magalong noted that these areas have a high number of COVID-19 cases.

Aside from this, Magalong conducted a virtual meeting with officials in 10 regions to discuss their operation in contact tracing. He also engaged other 14 LGUs to present their situation and strategy in contact tracing amid the spread of COVID-19 in their respective areas.

As of July 29, the number of Filipinos infected with COVID-19 was at 85,486 after 1,874 more were reported, according to the Department of Health (DOH). This marks the 15th straight day during which at least 1,300 new infections were recorded.

The five provinces with the highest number of new cases were Metro Manila with 728, Cebu with 325, Laguna with 130, Iloilo with 67, and Rizal with 53. —KBK, GMA News