PH to win Covid-19 fight via public’s cooperation: execs

ONE BIG FIGHT VS. COVID-19. Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso (center), testing czar Vince Dizon (left), and Manila Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna (right) answer questions from the press after the launch of the 13th quarantine facility of Manila at the Manuel L. Quezon University. The three officials urged the people to cooperate and comply with the government’s protocols in fighting Covid-19. (Screengrab from live video via PNA)

MANILA – The fight against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) will only be successful through everyone’s cooperation, top local and national government officials said on Friday.

At the launch of Manila city’s 13th quarantine facility at the Manuel L. Quezon University in Quiapo, Manila, Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said all efforts of the national government and local government units would be useless if the people will refuse to cooperate.

“All our efforts will be useless if people continue to go out, do not wear masks, do not wash their hands, and do not observe safe physical distancing. We have to take care of ourselves,” Domagoso said in a mix of Filipino and English.

Meanwhile, National Action Plan against Covid-19 deputy chief implementer Vivencio Dizon said the people can only fight Covid-19 in a “smart way” and help the government.

He said the biggest responsibility in fighting the pandemic lies in the citizenry, adding that simply following health and safety protocols is already a big step in winning against the disease.

Dizon said the role of the LGUs is very vital as he commended the efforts being done by the city government of Manila in trying to be ahead of the pandemic.

“Napakalaki po ng kailangan nating tulong mula sa ating local government, kaya nga bilib na bilib kami sa National Task Force sa leadership ni Mayor Isko at Vice Mayor Honey dahil sa Manila napakabilis nila umaksyon sa dapat gawin, katulad nitong mga quarantine facilities (we need the help of the LGU’s, that is why we in the National Task Force admire Mayor Isko and Vice Mayor Honey because of they are very prompt in their actions, like the building of quarantine facilities like this,” Dizon said.

He said Manila, having a more than a 500-bed capacity for Covid-19 patients, is the LGU that has the highest bed capacity in the country.

“This is what we need right now, aggressive testing and the immediate isolation of those who will be found positive of the virus because if a person positive with Covid-19 is left in the community, the possibility of infecting his family and the neighborhood is huge,” he added.

Dizon also said the serology testing machine being used in Manila’s drive-thru, walk-in, and mobile centers are more accurate than the normal rapid test kit but he said this cannot be used as a stand-alone mode of testing.

The RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction), he said, should be used if “we want to know if the person is infected and can transmit the virus”.

Dizon said the government should hire more medical health care workers.

He said the country should push through with having a health care workers reserve just like what President Rodrigo Duterte is saying.

“We are in a war right now against the Covid-19 pandemic and that we should help our medical front-liners,” he added.

This month, Dizon said the Department of Health (DOH) will hire more health care workers to support the doctors, nurses, and medical technicians.