LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte – After recording its first coronavirus disease (COVID-19) fatality, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte, through the concerted efforts of the Task Force Salun-at, launched intensified proactive measures to control the possible upsurge of in coronavirus cases in Sarrat town.
On August 28, a 62-year-old female, who had pre-existing comorbidity from Barangay 9 San Lorenzo in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte passed away. Seven of her primary contacts have also tested positive for COVID-19.
Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc said the province was using "expanded and targeted testing" and speedy contact tracing to prevent the risk of further transmission.
"We are looking for software applications to further strengthen our contact tracing. Mga applications na pwedeng gamitin kahit offline at walang internet," said Manotoc.
To fast-track the contact tracing, Manotoc said he was “appealing to the people of Sarrat to cooperate and be transparent”.
“We need and rely on you to be upfront with us because we need your information,” he said.
Manotoc said the province's contact tracing team is now composed of the PGIN, Department of Health (DOH), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
"We are conducting more expanded and targeted testing, which means we test all the close contacts. Agad-agad po nating ini-schedule sila for swab testing kaya we were able to catch the new active cases in the town," said Provincial Health Consultant Dr. Norman Rabago.
"We cannot test the 26,000 population of Sarrat, but we will do it in a more logical and more organized manner. We plan to test the 10 percent population in the critical and containment zones," Rabago added.
Aside from donating one automated extractor machine to the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, the provincial government will also be setting up its PCR laboratory at the Gov. Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital to significantly increase the province's testing capacity.
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Major Roxanne Parado and the Provincial Resiliency Office will work together in manning the Emergency Operation Center for COVID-19 Contact Tracing.
Meanwhile, 25 sitios in eight affected barangays in Sarrat have been placed under 14-day lockdown.
The provincial government has distributed 500 food packs to the affected areas in Sarrat. Likewise, the family of the deceased COVID-19 patient was provided with cash and food assistance.