THE Davao City Government will be strengthening its contact tracing efforts by training those in the private sector on how to contact trace and identify people who have been exposed to Covid-19.
Davao City Covid-19 Task Force Spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser said in a radio interview on Wednesday, September 8, 2021, that they are now providing training to private establishments to fast-track the contact tracing of first-generation (F1) contact of a confirmed positive case; second-generation (F2) contact or those who have close contact with F1; and third-generation (F3) contact or those who have close contact with F2.
Prior to her interview, she came from a training participated in by commercial banks in the city.
"Nag-conduct ta og contact tracing training for the business sector - sa mga bangko, para they know also on how to do their own contact-tracing kay kabalo man ta kung unsa ka importante ang contact tracing (We conducted contact-tracing training for the business sector, the banks, so they will know how to do their own contact-tracing because we all know how important it is). So we are teaching these individuals or these establishments so they will better identify who are their close contacts," Schlosser said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
The official said the banking industry is one of the sectors that logged a large number of Covid-19 cases in previous months.
She noted that contact tracing would be more effective if the people who would inform the concerned individuals that they are exposed are familiar to them.
They observed that those who had contacts with positive patients are apprehensive in disclosing and submitting themselves to swab tests.
"Kasi (There are) a lot of times, mas dali mag-disclose ang mga pasyente kung ilahang mga friends and colleagues ang magtawag sa ilaha. (it would be easier for patients to disclose their condition to their friends and colleagues who will be calling them.) With the safety officer of each of the establishments, magtabangay sila with the contact tracer nato. Naa tay direct access sa ilahang organic contact tracer so mas ma-identify nato ang F1, F2, and F3. Mas easier ang communication with them (they will work hand-in-hand with our contact tracer. We will now have direct access to their organic contact tracer so we can better identify who are the F1, F2, and F3. The communication would be easier with them)," she said.
During the orientation, Schlosser said they educate the participants on how to conduct the proper contact tracing and significantly help identify individuals and then subject them to swabbing. With this, it will further prevent potential lockdowns of the concerned establishment since they have already determined individuals that need isolation.
Admittedly, she said lockdowns have detrimental effects on the economy. But she is urging the private sector to cooperate in order to cut the chain of infection. She also said this practice might prevent future lockdowns.
Schlosser said the first recipient of their training is the business process outsourcing (BPO) companies. It can be recalled that in June, there was a surge in Covid-19 cases among workers in this industry that led to the lockdown of big BPO companies for disinfection and decontamination.
Based on their monitoring, they observed a downtrend in cases among this sector, noting that these establishments are very cooperative in the City's efforts by following the set safety guidelines.