Consistency in Covid-19 response vital to slow down cases

Dizon, also the country’s testing czar, said the consistent testing, tracing, isolating, and treating is vital in the fight against Covid-19. (PNA file photo)

MANILA – Consistency in the country’s health response against the dreaded coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is important, National Action Plan (NAP) deputy chief implementer Secretary Vince Dizon said on Saturday.

Dizon, also the country’s testing czar, said the consistent testing, tracing, isolating, and treating is vital in the fight against Covid-19.

“Mahaba-habang labanan po ito, kaya very important po yan sa ating laban kasi kapag bumaba na ang kaso hindi ibig sabihin na next week hindi na tataas yan (This is a long battle, so that is very important in our fight, even if the cases slow down now, it does not mean that next week it will not spike again),” he said during the ceremonial launch of “Mask Para sa Masa” drive-in Quezon City.

He added that inconsistent responses could make inconsistent results.

Dizon said it is very critical to have a consistent response to the curb the spread of the disease.

“Kapag medyo nag-lax ka ng konti, o medyo hindi mo itinuloy-tuloy yung pagtetest, pagtetrace, pagi-isolate mo, posibleng later on after a few more weeks, tataas naman ulit yan (If you lax a little, you do not continue your testing, tracing and isolation, it is possible that later on after a few more weeks, cases will spike again),” he said.

It is also vital in reviving the economy since the country can no longer sustain the stricter forms of lockdowns, Dizon said.

He said it already visible that the National Capital Region (NCR) mayors are already performing consistency on health responses in their localities.

Meanwhile, Dizon said the current Covid-19 cases recorded in Metro Manila have been reduced compared to the cases from the past three to four weeks.

He said the growth rate of cases in NCR reached “triple-digit or high double-digit” at 80 percent while other LGUs reaching 150-percent growth every two weeks.

“Now we’re very happy to report, (including) Quezon City, we are now at double-digit. It’s a low double-digit—we have now 20 percent, 30-percent growth rate. So ibig sabihin po bumabagal na ang pagdami ng kaso sa NCR kasama na ang Quezon City (It means the increase in cases is slowing down in NCR including Quezon City),” said Dizon.

He added this is a very huge accomplishment compared to the recorded growth rate for the past weeks.

Dizon reiterated the need for consistency in implementing health responses.

On the other hand, Dizon assured the local government units (LGUs), particularly in greater Manila area—where many cases come from that the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) and the National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 will provide support to them by all means.

Dizon said there are teams now deployed in Region 6 and Bacolod, to help them address the spike in Covid-19 cases there.

He said retired general Mel Feliciano and Department Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu were assigned respectively by President Rodrigo Duterte in Negros Occidental and Iloilo, to immediately respond to the increasing Covid-19 cases in the areas.

“Again, it is important that our response is consistent. If we will do this and become consistent, believe us, the cases will slow down. Eventually, it will be under control in the next few weeks. Tuluy-tuloy lang po dapat tayo (We just have to keep going),” said Dizon.