CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–Countering the false news on “house-to-house search” for coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 positive cases, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reiterates that the order is to bring the patients to Ligtas Centers as a precautionary measure to curtail transmission.
During the NorMin COVID-19 Response Task Force press conference, July 17, DILG-10 Regional Director Arnel Agabe said, “Giklaro ni SILG Eduardo Año nga kini nga gabuhaton sa atong national government ug local government units dili ni siya ‘Tokhang’ usa kini nga pamaagi sumpay sa paningkamot aron dili mudaghan ang COVID sa nasud.”
(SILG Eduardo Año clarified that this action of the national government and local government units is not ‘Tokhang’ [involvement of officers going door to door to root out drug-related offenders] but a way to continue the efforts on containing the spread of COVID in the country)
Such will be done through the local epidemiological surveillance unit to go to the reported houses with COVID-19 confirmed cases so the latter can be sent immediately to Ligtas COVID Centers where they can be monitored and treated.
Agabe added that it is conducted “aron mapugngan nga makatakod sila sa ilang kauban sa pamilya, silingan o lain pang lumulupyo nga posible nilang matakdan during the course nga naa pa sa ilaha ang virus.”
(to keep them from infecting other members of the family, neighbors or other residents who will possibly be infected during the course when the virus is still with them)
Based on Repuclic Act No. 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, the government plays the vital role in ensuring that the COVID-19 patients are well taken care of as the isolation centers are equipped to handle their medical needs as opposed to practicing home quarantine.
Any person or entity found to have violated Section 9 of this Act shall be penalized with a fine of not less than P20,000 but not more than P50,000 or imprisonment of not less than one month but not more than six months, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the proper court, Agabe added.
As for home quarantine, such will be allowed if he or she has a separate room where the patient can be confined; if the patient has his or her own comfort room; and if he or she is not living with people who are vulnerable to COVID-19 such as senior citizen and immune-compromised individuals, among others.
As of July 17, a total of 373 confirmed COVID-19 cases were recorded in the region, 120 of whom have recovered, 11 have expired, and 242 are recovering. (RTP/PIA10)
