BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – The head of the local inter-agency task force here on infectious and emerging diseases has called on his national counterparts to review the policies on Authorized Persons Outside of Residence who have become “super spreaders” of the COVID19 disease.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who had been heading the local task force here since early this year, told DNX the unrestricted access to travel given to APORS has made them “super spreaders” of the virus as he pointed to some cases here involving APORs.
APORs include drivers and helpers of delivery trucks carrying essential goods coming from Manila and Cebu.
This city now has a total of 150 confirmed cases, 89 of which are “active” or patients who still have the virus that caused COVID19.
Familiaran said the national IATF must rethink its policies because LGUs will be more burdened if the virus continues to spread.
TONE OF THE LETTER
Familiaran added he and other city officials had already dialogued with physicians who head medical associations here over their calls to place the city under an Enhanced Community Quarantine for two weeks amid the rising cases.
The vice mayor said they have clarified the points raised by the doctors but he was surprised they forwarded their complaints to the national IATF and Malacanang.
“I have no problem with the points they raised; in fact we have already been implementing everything they have been proposing,” Familiaran said.
He added, however, that he finds the “tone of the letter” a bit problematic as it portrayed City Hall to have been remiss in their responsibilities or not doing anything.