Contact tracers already tired, says Magalong

Contact tracers nationwide are already getting exhausted in light of the health crisis as they are getting overwhelmed with the increase in the number of daily cases in the country, according to Cedric Castillo’s report on “24 Oras” on Monday.

This was the statement issued by contact tracing czar and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong.

“Pagod na pagod na rin po ang ating mga contact tracers, especially kung walang relyebo,” he said.

“To be honest with you, kulang na lang sabihin din nila ‘puwede ho ba time out din kami?’” Magalong added.

Based on data presented by Magalong, the country has 149,000 contact tracers and they were able to trace more than 400,000 people who had close contacts with positive COVID-19 patients.

He added that only five of the close contacts of the positive case are being traced —  the figure is far from the target ratio of 1:37 case to close contact ratio.

“Kung minsan ho ang contact tracer, siya na rin ho ang swabber, sarili pa niyang sasakyan at gasolina. Talagang tatamarin magtrabaho,” he said.

Moreover, he said the government is planning to hire more contact tracers in September and the budget is included in the Bayanihan 2 bill. -- Ma. Angelica Garcia/BAP, GMA News