Task force monitors areas with spike in Covid-19 cases

FILE: Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA – The National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 is closely monitoring areas that saw a slight increase in its coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases.

“Ang ginagawa po ngayon ng National Task Force (Against) Covid-19 ay minamanmanan natin ‘yung mga lugar na mayroon pang kaunting pagtaas — hindi naman gaano (kataas) pero tayo’y nag-iingat lamang na hindi umangat nang malaki — tulad ng (The National Task Force (Against) Covid-19) is keeping an eye on areas that recorded that a slight increase in Covid-19 cases such as) Iloilo, Tacloban, Lanao Sur, Iligan, Davao City, at saka (and) Davao province,” Defense Secretary and NTF Against Covid-19 chair, Delfin Lorenzana told President Rodrigo Duterte during a taped Cabinet meeting aired over PTV-4 Monday night.

Lorenzana, meanwhile, said they have deployed more nurses and doctors in Davao City to augment medical personnel in containing the disease.

He added that a total of 333,367 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have so far been sent home.

Lorenzana also told the President that steps are now being undertaken to mitigate the effect of the low pressure area (LPA) in areas in Northern Luzon.

“So ang estimate ng PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) ay magkakaroon na naman nang malakas na ulan diyan sa Cagayan Valley. Kaya ‘yung ating mga NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) units at saka ‘yung mga tropa natin ay naghahanda na naman para tulungan ‘yung mga taong maaapektuhan ng pagbaha, (PAGASA estimates that there would be heavy rains again in Cagayan Valley. Our NDRRMC units and our troops are already preparing to help those who might be affected by floods) Mr.

President. Thank you,” he added.