Isolation crucial to stopping transmission: DOH

FILE: A large billboard shows a health reminder to motorists driving along Edsa in Cubao, Quezon City on Thursday (August 13, 2020). (PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler)

MANILA – Isolation is a critical step in mitigating the transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), a Department of Health (DOH) official said.

In a media forum Wednesday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said an individual needed to isolate or do self-quarantine even at the slightest suspicion or symptoms of Covid-19 to protect themselves and their loved ones. Further, it is a vital safety measure if they had close contact with suspect, probable, or confirmed cases.

“Whether you are tested or not, please isolate. If you have been in contact with someone who has symptoms or has tested positive, please isolate immediately. If you are unsure if you have been exposed to a person with the virus, again please isolate,” Vergeire said.

This reinforces the campaign of the Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE), which shifts government efforts to a more granular and setting-specific implementation of the Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate national action plan.

CODE’s primary objective is to cut disease transmission in identified barangays and communities.

Vergeire said CODE has assisted 17 barangays in the National Capital Region and two in Central Luzon. The DOH is now preparing to assist 30 more barangays in Region 4-A (Calabarzon).

“Ang laban sa Covid-19 ay wala sa mga ospital, isolation facilities, o testing centers.

Ito ay nagsisimula sa ating mga komunidad, barangay at mga tahanan (The fight against Covid-19 is not in hospitals, isolation facilities or testing centers. The fight begins in our own homes, communities, barangays) With our communities taking a more proactive role in mitigating disease transmission, we are now starting to see members of our local communities heeding the call to serve and lead the fight against Covid at the barangay level,” she said.

Crucial to the granular approach are the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) tasked to lead their communities in becoming more proactive about containing Covid-19. BHERTS are composed of members of the local community, particularly the barangay executive officer, barangay tanods, barangay healthworkers, and community volunteers.

They are trained to provide the community with health promotion and education, and ensure the implementation of minimum public health standards.

Included among BHERTs’ responsibilities are supporting contact tracing at the household level; daily monitoring of the close contacts under home quarantine; and providing the first-line response to patients in the community. BHERTs will also coordinate the referral of patients for quarantine and isolation.

Vergeire said the BHERTs would be there to help people in facing a crisis situation.

“We want our fellow Filipinos to know that our BHERTs are our first-line responders in our respective communities. Let us take part in our community response. Let us be proactive and make the effort to know who exactly our BHERTs are so that we know who to listen to, and who to get help from if needed,” she said.

“Always be aware of your own condition. And should the need arise because of COVID-19 concerns — isolate,” she added. (DOH PR)