THE Department of Health (DOH) on Friday, August 7, 2020, said it is still too early to determine the impact of the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) that has been re-imposed over Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
During the Laging Handa public briefing, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said it will take two to three weeks to ascertain the effects of the lockdown.
“Hindi pa natin masasabi ngayon kung nagkaroon na tayo ng epekto, dito sa isinagawa natin na MECQ o paghihigpit ulit nitong community quarantine,” she said.
“Makikita natin ‘yan after two to three weeks, because we all know that the incubation period of the disease is about 14 days, so kailangan hintayin natin ‘yan kung may mga bago bang kaso na papasok,” she added.
Vergeire said the success of the lockdown will be indicated by the number of people complying with the minimum health standards such as wearing of face masks and face shields, washing of hands and physical distancing.
“So what are the measures or the indicators of success or even achievement o kung ano man sa ginawa natin dito sa two weeks na sinabi nating time-out. Unang una, gusto nating makita na mayroon na tayong higher awareness sa community and compliance to the minimum health standards, isa ‘yan sa pinaka objective while we’re going down,” Vergeire said.
“For us to be really able to educate and inform the community of the importance of these minimum health standards,” she added.
Another indicator is the extent of contact tracing.
“Pangalawa, kapag nakita na natin - may mga indicators kaming tinalaga, halimbawa, doon sa barangay na pupuntahan namin dapat 95 percent ng close contact na trace,” the official said.
Vergeire said all symptomatic individuals in areas with clusters of infection are tested using RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) while all close contacts are isolated.
“Dapat 100 percent ng may symptomps doon sa barangay na pinuntahan ay na-identify at nabigyan ng isolation facility kung ‘di man siya puwede doon sa bahay,” she said. (SunStar Philippines)