As Mati enters the new normal, the City of Mati Task Force is advised to strictly implement the new surveillance protocol. This is in strict compliance to the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines by IATF-EID.
Individuals from outside Mati should expect screenings at Border Quarantine Check Points for symptomatic individuals.
Health workers are mandated to wear face masks, face shields and perform mandatory screening at a distance of at least 2 meters away from the patient who should also wear facemasks as well.
Patients will then undergo Symptoms Screening wherein they will be asked the following questions:
Q1. Is there any member of the family who has the following symptoms?
A.) Less than of equal to 10 days of fever and cough;
B.) Sore throat;
C.) Shortness of breath?
(Duna bay miyembro sa inyong pamilya nga dunay bisan usa niani nga sintomas?)
A.) Kalintura/hilanat ug uno nga halos 10 na ka adlaw;
B.) Sakit sa tutunlan;
C.) Lisod nga pagginhawa?
Q2. In the past 14 days, were there other individuals or visitors to this house who had these symptoms? (Sa milabay nga 14 ka adlaw, duna ba’y ubang tawo o bisita dinhi sa inyong balay nga aduna ani nga mga sintomas?)
Q3. In the past 14 days, was there any family member who was admitted to the hospital due to pneumonia or shortness of breath? (Sa milabay nga 14 ka adlaw, dunay ba’y miyembro sa inyong pamilya nga nadala o na-admit sa hospital tungod sa pneumonia o lisod nga paghinhawa?)
If there is one YES answer to any of the questions provided, the BHW shall then notify Rural Health Midwives (RHMs)/Human Resource for Health (HRH)/Punong Barangay and transfer the patient to holding area or Barangay Isolation Unit (BIU) while observing distance of at least 2 meters.
Also, senior citizens, immunosuppressed patients including pregnant women that shows fatigue, reduced alertness, reduced mobility, diarrhea, loss of appetite, delirium shall be referred immediately for COVID-19 screening.
BHS / BCTT / BHERTs shall then report findings to the CHO Contract Tracing Team (CTT) and coordinate with the Medical Doctor (MD) through telemedicine to assess whether the patients will fall under COVID-19 suspects of not and if that particular individual/patient shall undergo home quarantine or isolation at Alternate Care Site (ACS). If needed, MDs can perform initial treatment to the patient.
Botika ng Bayan (BnB) shall prepare medicines for common illness as advised by MDs. This will be retrieved by RHMs/HRH personnel. BnB shall prepositioned/stock pilled the medicines for easy retrieval for Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) barangays.
The designated COVID ambulance team will pick up the identified COVID-19 suspects and bring the patient to ACS for the required 2nd level triage, RT-PCR testing and isolation if needed.
ACS team will manage the patient following the Ligtas Covid Center Protocol of DOH and inform about the patientsβ status to BHERTs/Punong Barangay/family of the patient.
Returning Overseas Filipino Workers and Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) will still undergo in the same health screening protocols upon arriving at the checkpoint. He/She will undergo 14 days of quarantine wether at the ACS Quarantine Facility or home quarantine if the minimum home quarantine standards are met, to be monitored by BHERTs. The same applies to individuals from known local transmission like Davao City, Cebu and Manila.
RT-PCR test will follow as to be determined by the ACS testing team on the terms provided by SPMC or DRMC.
IMT head Dr. Ben Hur Catbagan Jr. said that now is the time to bring the COVID-19 fight to the barangays/puroks.
“This surveillance protocol will empower them to learn how protect themselves from COVID-19 including practice of minimum health standards,” he said.
LOCKDOWN will also be avoided if these protocols are properly implemented. (CIO MATI)