DILG to LGUs: Up moves vs Covid-19 delta variant

BAGUIO CITY-- With the possibility of local transmission of the Delta variant in Cordillera, the Dept. of the Interior and Local Government urged local government units to enforce ordinances, omnibus guidelines and minimum public health standards (MPHS) in order to keep the public safe, prevent the entry and spread of the Delta variant, and to strengthen their capacity to deal with potential surges. 

“All LGUs are reminded of their roles in the implementation of the Prevention, Detection, Isolation, Treatment, and Reintegration (PDITR) strategy especially in the midst of the threat of the Delta variant,” said DILG CAR OIC regional director Araceli San Jose.
     She also reminded the public that, while the government is strengthening PDITR implementation at the local level, the best defense against any COVID-19 variant is still the correct and consistent adherence to the minimum public health standards and getting vaccinated.
    “Strictly ensure the adherence to MPHS in your localities, including social distancing and mandatory and proper wearing of face masks and face shields,” she said.
    Meanwhile, OIC-RD San Jose urged local governments to guarantee the efficacy of the government's Covid-19 vaccination program and the implementation of information, education, and communication campaigns to continuously increase vaccine demand.

OIC-RD San Jose said that the LGUs should immediately locate and isolate Covid-19 cases, and ensure that confirmed patients are immediately quarantined in a facility, with strict observance of infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols.

“There should also be an established dedicated Covid-19 hotlines and ensure the continued operations and sufficiency of local quarantine facilities,” she added.

“Contract tracing teams should immediately conduct back-tracing of up to the third generation of close contacts of confirmed Covid-19 cases and strictly enforce localized/granular lockdowns and to facilitate contact tracing and prevent further transmission.”

Further, the border control should be intensified while the local chief executives will lead the aggressive mass vaccination and faster contact tracing, testing, and isolation of patients infected with the virus and to consider having a dedicated facility for Delta variant cases and contacts.