Gov’t to localize Nat’l Action Plan vs. Covid-19

Padilla said the Metro Manila mayors have agreed to strengthen and intensify the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine. (PNA file photo)

MANILA –The government pushes to localize the implementation of the national action plan to halt the spread of the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19), and to mitigate the impact of the pandemic crisis, especially in the National Capital Region (NCR).

“We are targeting to flatten the curve in NCR since it is the center of many Covid-19 cases in the country,” National Task Force (NTF) Covid-19 Response spokesperson Restituto Padilla said in a virtual press briefing Thursday night.

The national plan, he said, will be implemented down to the barangays in NCR “to contain, isolate, and eliminate the threat, and mitigate the impact of this crisis.”

He said the “detect-isolate-treat-reintegrate” approach under the national action plan will be implemented locally along with the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

“I would like to emphasize, we cannot be complacent at this time nor at any time thereafter, until our country is rid of this disease,” he added.

Padilla said the Metro Manila mayors have agreed to strengthen and intensify the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

Local leaders in Region-3 (Central Luzon), he said, have agreed to do the same.

He said the plan includes “massive targeted and focused testing”—to immediately isolate suspected Covid-19 carriers and those persons under monitoring (PUMs), which consists of detecting, isolating and treating Covid-19 patients.

He then reminded the local government units (LGUs) of their vital roles as front-liners of the fight against the infectious disease, especially the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the country.

Meanwhile, Padilla said that the capacity of Covid-19 testing facilities has already improved.

There are already 16 government-accredited testing facilities nationwide, he said, noting that more than 38,103 persons have already been tested since April 13.

From 600 individuals per day, he said the daily cumulative count reaches 4, 286 individuals tested.

He said the government is counting on more people to be tested by procuring 900, 000 PCR testing kits and two million rapid test kits, “an essential requirement to carry out the targeted and expanded testing for suspected and probable Covid-19 carriers.”

He noted that expanded testing is free of charge. “We are encouraging those who are experiencing Covid-19 symptoms to connect with your local health officers for an evaluation, —to know if there’s a need for you to be tested immediately.”

“We are expecting (the action) to reduce the new Covid-19 cases, decrease the number of deaths, and increase the number of recovering patients,” he said, noting that the “3T’s: Testing, Tracing, at Treatment” can eliminate the Covid-19.

The national government has extended the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon island until April 30 to further reduce the local transmission of Covid-19.