The City Government has formed various task groups to address the different levels of response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The task groups will help ensure preparedness in curtailing the entry and spread of the dreaded disease at the port of entry as well as preparedness in contract tracing and treatment and containment of the disease including risk communication.
Mayor Beng Climaco, who heads the Task Force on COVID-19, assured that the City Government is taking extra steps to prevent the entry and spread of the dreaded disease in Zamboanga City through the activation of the different task groups. These include Task Group (TG) Entry Point Quarantine, TG Contact Tracing, TG Treatment and Containment and TG Risk Communication.
TG entry point quarantine will help prevent or minimize the entry of suspected or confirmed patients with emerging infectious diseases (EID) through rigid screening and identification of COVID-19/EID suspects and the institutionalization of a surveillance, alert and quarantine system in all ports of entry – in both sea, land and air. Included are the Bureau of Quarantine, City Health Office, Philippine Ports Authority, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Integrated Bus Terminal (IBT), City Administrator’s Office, City Police, Joint Task Force Zamboanga, Philippine Coast Guard and Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) 11.
TG Contact Tracing establishes a system of identifying, screening and assisting people with COVID-19/EID and conduct epidemiological investigation and contact tracing. Members include the Department of Health, City Health Office, City Social Welfare Office and Barangay Health Emergency Response teams among others.
Task Group Treatment and Containment will be responsible for treatment of infected cases and containment of affected areas and these will compose of the different hospitals, DOH, CHO, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, EMS Volunteer groups, ZCPO, JTFZ and Philippine Coast Guard among others.
While the TG Risk Communication will be in charge of educating the public on COVID-19/ EID and its prevention, control and management with members to include the CHO, DOH, ZCDRRMO, Public Information Office, Commission on Higher Education and the Philippine Information Agency.
Meanwhile, Mayor Climaco yesterday convened concerned department heads and some rank and file employees for the crafting of guidelines/ protocols to safeguard employees and clients of City Hall and other City Government offices from local transmission of COVID-19.
On the other hand, information drives on COVID-19 continues without let-up to properly inform and educate the public. The CHO Thursday met with the barangay sector at the City Coliseum in Tetuan, the Ulama CZP at the Sta. Barbara Mosque and other groups. (Sheila Covarrubias)