Albay IATF enforces measures to curb surge in Covid cases

By Mar S. Arguelles

Albay health authorities are closely stepping up enforcement of the quarantine protocols as a health measure to curb the possible entry of individuals from the National Capital Region (NCR) infected with the Covid-19 Omicron variant which is fast spreading in Metro Manila.

Engr. Vida Prollamante, Albay provincial administrator on Monday, Jan. 3, said the Albay Interagency Task Force for the emerging infectious disease (IATF) has reminded the 18 local government units (LGUs) to strengthen their minimum public health protocols to prevent the spread of the new variant.

Prollamante said the provincial IATF directed the town and city mayors to carry out Departments of Health (DOH) and Tourism (DOT) joint advisory on Dec. 30, 2021 that gives a stern warning for violation of quarantine protocols and other minimum public health standards.

Under the joint advisory, DOT accredited accommodation establishments operating under an alert level system that violates the mandatory reporting of noticeable diseases that could pose public health concerns would be fined, its owner and staff imprisoned, including the suspension, revocation, or cancellation of their accreditations.

Prollamante in an interview said the province including the entire region remained under Alert Level 2, meaning case transmission is low and decreasing.

Meanwhile, the DOH Bicol in a media forum said to prevent the spread of the virus particularly the Omicron variant, various LGUs were reminded to intensify their contact tracing mechanism, including a mass vaccination program targeting at least 70 percent of their population in order to attain herd immunity against the disease.

Step up the minimum public health standards by wearing masks, observing social distancing, avoiding mass gatherings, unnecessary traveling, DOH said.

Under Alert Level 2, indoor establishments are allowed 50 percent of their capacity while on outdoor events 70 percent capacity is permitted.

DOH tracker as of Jan. 2 has logged six new Covid-19 cases bringing to 2,095 active cases, with no death recorded.

Records showed that there were 46,827 people who got infected with the virus disease since March 2020, with 42,784 (91 percent) recoveries and 1,948 (4.6 percent) death recorded.