CamSur PDRRMC activates operation center for nCoV

PILI, Camarines Sur, --- Camarines Sur Gov. and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) chairperson Miguel “Migz” Villafuerte ordered all mayors and punong barangays or MDRRMC and BDRRMC chairpersons respectively to implement preparedness measures and closely monitor their areas of jurisdiction for any case of novel Coronavirus or nCoV.

This, after Villafuerte placed the entire province in Blue Alert Status for Coronavirus pursuant to the same directive issued by the Bicol RDRRMC and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Thursday, Feb, 6 due to the threat of nCoV.

In line with this, the PDRRMC immediately activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to ensure that resources and personnel are readily available for deployment if the situation calls for it.

Aside from activating the EOC, the PDRRMC also assigned two exclusive vehicles for NCoV, one for surveillance and an ambulance as augmentation to Bicol Medical Center (BMC).

Training of back-up health personnel through the Department of Health (DOH) started Feb. 8 just in case the situation necessitates their deployment. Nurses from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) form be part of the training. PDRRMC also prepared for the worst case scenario.

A quarantine facility, with personnel and an exclusive hotline has already been identified. MDRRMOs and BDRRMOs are also directed to provide pertinent reports and regular updates to the Provincial EOC through the established infolinks.

They may also send their reports to the official email address of PDRRMC for any concerns regarding nCoV. Prior to the issuance of the directive on blue alert status, PDRRMC members already convened on Feb. 5, Wednesday to initially discuss various measures on how to prevent the spread of NCov in the province.

Invited to shed light on the dreaded virus is BMC Point person for Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases (EREID) Dr. Jose Manuel Rañola. On Wed., Feb. 12, PDRRMC members again convened to discuss updates on the 2019 NCoV.

On top of the agenda is the presentation of the worst case scenario preparedness measures, among others. (PIA)