Magalong calls on LGUs to intensify contact tracing efforts

Contact tracing czar Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Sunday urged local government units (LGUs) to intensify their contact tracing efforts amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

In a Dobol B TV interview, Magalong lamented how the national contact tracing efficiency ratio has not been sustained, which he said depends much on the efforts of the LGUs.

"Naglalaro tayo sa contact tracing sa ratio na 1:6, 1:7, there is even a time na umakyat tayo sa 1:10 pero hindi natin na-sustain. That is the national average," he said.

("Our contact tracing ratio is around 1:6, 1:7, there is even a time that went up to 1:10 but it was not sustained. That is the national average.")

"This is heavy reliant doon sa performance ng local government unit. They have to aspire, they have to exert more effort, hindi lang 'yung nakatutok lang sila doon sa first generation (F1). And when I'm talking about F1, usually household lang," he added.

("This is heavily reliant on the performance of local government units. They have to aspire, they have to exert more effort, and they should focus not only on first generation (F1) cases. And when I'm talking about F1, usually that's household level only.")

Magalong said many factors contribute to the low contact tracing efficiency ratio in the country. Apart from the insufficient efforts of the LGUs, he said the data collection system is itself an issue.

"Magugulat ka na lang kapag ginawa ka nang live list ng mga index cases, makikita mo na lang na maraming zero na close contact. Bakit zero ang close contact? Only to find out later na hindi pala na-encode. Kasi nga papel-papel lang 'yung ginagawa nila," he said.

("You'll be surprised when you become part of the live list of index cases, you'll see that you have zero close contacts. Why zero close contacts? Only to find out that they have not been encoded. Because they are only handwritten.")

At the same time, contract tracers are overwhelmed with the number of people whose contacts they have to track, Magalong added.

Nevertheless, Magalong welcomed those who disclose to the public that they have tested positive for COVID-19, as this will "heighten and fast-track 'yung contact tracing."

"'Yung ganu'n na mga full disclosure malaking bagay. Kaya lang 'yung iba iniisip nila 'yung discrimination, 'yung ma-alienate sila, 'yung kahihiyan nila. Pero tanggap na ngayon, hindi na dapat ganu'n ang pananaw natin," he said.

("Full disclosures are important. But some people think they might be discriminated against, alienated, or it is an embarrassment. But that's not the case now, that should not be our thinking anymore.")

The Philippines on Saturday reported another record high of 5,000 COVID-19 infections, the highest reported in seven months, bringing the total tally to 616,611. —KG, GMA News