Bontoc uses Baguio contact tracing system

Alpine L. Killa

BONTOC, Mountain Province – This capital town is now using the contact tracing system of the City Government of Baguio which local officials said, had  been proven as an effective tool to curb spread of Covid-19.
    Municipal Health Officer Dr. Diga Kay Gomez said Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong in one of webinar meetings offered the use of their contact tracing system during the sudden surge of Covid-19 cases and detection of B.1.1.7 (UK) variant in Bontoc in January 2021.
    Two personnel from the Bontoc local government underwent training in Baguio City on the system.
    The Bontoc LGU employed four Information Technology graduates on a job order status to encode and input data  gathered by Bontoc LGU contact tracing and monitoring team. The data will be sent directly to the system of the City Government of Baguio contact tracing operations center for analysis.
    The result of the analysis will be fed to the Covid-19 operations center of Bontoc.
    Through the use of the Geographical Information System, the extent of potential infections in a community can be visualized.
    Dr. Gomez said use of the system hastened contact tracing efforts in Bontoc.
    It was reportedly helpful in decision and policy making of the Municipal Inter-Agency Task Force to prevent further spread of the virus such as the imposition of granular lockdown, if necessary.
    Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey thanked the City Government of Baguio through the leadership of Mayor Magalong for their assistance which improved contact tracing capability of this capital town.