Gasataya backs testing all exposed to Covid-19 patients

BACOLOD City Lone District Representative Greg Gasataya has expressed his support to the policy of testing not only for patients under investigation (PUIs) but all those who were exposed or had direct physical contact with coronavirus disease (Covid-19) positive patients after they were identified through contract tracing.

Gasataya said yesterday that the policy was discussed during the provincial Inter-Agency Task Force against Covid-19 meeting which was presided by former congressman Albee Benitez along with other local officials in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City on Wednesday, April 1.

He said Dr. Julius Drilon of Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) also presented their projection based on statistical analysis of the number of positive patients in the coming weeks.

“We should continue to have a positive atmosphere of cooperation and unity as we are all in this crisis together,” he added.

Aside from PUIs, Gasataya said that health workers who handled positive case should be tested for Covid-19 as well as the house members, companions and officemates of a positive case.

He said those who have direct contacts of positive case, who are symptomatic, should also be tested for Covid-19, and those who have direct contacts of positive case who have co-morbidities even if asymptomatic.

He added that about 500 Universal Transport Medium (UTM) or swab testing kits for Covid-19 from Department of Health (DOH) are expected to be delivered here in Negros Occidental.

Gasataya stressed that these swab testing kits will be used not only for the PUIs but all those persons who have contact with the positive patients.

Aside from swab testing kits, he said that personal protective equipment (PPEs) are also expected to arrive in Negros Occidental.

“We have to prepare the exact number of PPEs for our frontliners to handle in case of worst-case scenario,” he said. (MAP)

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