By Fernan Angeles
TAYTAY, Rizal – The local government would have completed an isolation facility for COVID-19 response for each of their barangay by September, said Mayor Joric Gacula.
In a statement issued after meeting the town’s five barangay captains, Gacula hinted at the isolation facility as the place where they intend to house the immediate family members of confirmed COVID-19 patients – a measure deemed essential to stop further spread of the virus.
In the same meeting, Gacula told the village chiefs to identify and put up isolation facility in each of their barangay and have them operational by next month.
The local chief executive, himself a survivor of the highly-infectious disease back in March, appears to be wary over the continuing surge of COVID-19 cases in the town.
Asked for details, Gacula said that they might tap public school classrooms as barangay isolation facility, as face-to-face classes won’t be taking place for the meantime. He said that the LGU would be more than willing to help make their chosen public school to fit the requirements and standards of the Department of Health.
Gacula also clarified that those barangay isolation facilities would only be for barangay residents who have mild symptoms. He likewise gave a marching order on the LGU’s Health Office to help and monitor the patients in the village facilities.
He also cited the need to provide all the essential needs of the patients in isolation if only to make sure that they don’t go anywhere else.
In a virtual meeting earlier among COVID-19 national task force officer-in-charge for Rizal Secretary Alfonso Cusi, Rizal Governor Rebecca Ynares, and 14 mayors agreed on a multi-facet approach to the keep the COVID-19 contamination at check.
At present, COVID-positive patients showing severe symptoms are isolated in the town’s medical facility while non-severe and asymptomatic patients are in their respective homes while on quarantine.
As of Aug. 20, active cases in this locality trimmed down to 154 as more recoveries were recorded. This positive development however “should not be a reason for us to be complacent,” said Gacula.