The Department of Health (DOH) said that its health workers will start to go house-to-house in 10 barangays in Metro Manila to identify those who are exhibiting symptoms of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that such strategy is under their Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) protocol--"a more localized response initiative aimed at mitigating transmission at the community level."
The CODE teams will be composed of the DOH and personnel from the local government units (LGUs).
"What we are targeting are areas with clustering of infection," said Vergeire during the Malacanang press briefing on Friday, August 7.
The DOH identified the 10 barangays wherein they will initially start the conduct of the said strategy. These are: Pinagbuhatan, Pasig; Addition Hills, Mandaluyong; Sucat, Muntinlupa; Potrero, Malabon; Pembo, Makati; San Antonio, Paranaque; Barangay 12, Caloocan; Batasan Hills, Quezon City; CAA-BF International, Las Pinas; and Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.
“Ang ating gagawin dito as we have said, we are adopting the Dharavi model in Mumbai kung saan nagbahay-bahay sila, kumatok sila, nag-imbestiga sila ,” said Vergeire.
Vergeire said that they will conduct “extensive contact tracing and swabbing of those who are eligible to be swabbed” when the CODE teams visit their respective areas.
“Mag ask sila ng questions like for tracing people who have symptoms in the barangay --what they are doing when they have symptoms?….Hindi lang mismo yung may sintomas ang hahanapin natin, hahanapin din natin yung mga close contacts nitong mga exposed na ito para mabigyan sila ng advice na kailangan isolated sila ,” the Health official said.
Vergeire said that they will also check the compliance of those undergoing home quarantine.
“We will also check the status nung compliance natin dito sa home quarantine. Kasi nga (This is because) we have observed that a lot of our positive individuals who are staying at home are not really compliant with the single bedroom, single CR (comfort room), and no vulnerable population at home,” she said.