Contact tracing now intelligence-driven

CEBU, Philippines —  Intelligence-driven investigation applied in the enhanced contact tracing were among the things that Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong has taught, said Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Director Albert Ignatius Ferro.

In a press briefing yesterday, Ferro said they have already established its enhancement by applying the investigative skills of the police personnel into the contact tracing.

As the two-day training already concluded, Ferro said they will now be applying this in coordination with the intelligence branches of both the Cebu City Police Office and the PRO-7.

"We should apply because if we will not apply it, naa tay problema sa pag-identify or pag-locate sa mga affectations sa COVID.  If we cannot identify that, we cannot stop the bleeding of COVID.  We have to train our people on how they can effectively proceed (with) the contact tracing and well protected as well.  Kana pag natakdan ang atong contact tracers, ma-collapse ang atong pag-identify sa possible infection areas sa Sugbo," Ferro said.

However, Ferro said they will be reorganizing the contact tracers to be able to welcome the help and contribution of the city health workers. He added, the police's task will be on the part of security and as to stand as interviewers during the contact tracing.

Initially, the contact tracers were composed of the members of the CIDG, health department of every LGU and the DOH.

"Now we will be actively helping city health office and tanan na atong municipal health office para ma-address nato ang intelligence-driven ug tanan atong effort diri sa COVID-19 should be intelligence driven," said Ferro.

He added the intelligence-driven contact tracing will enable the team to know the real story and situation.

This will include the application of the investigative strategy on high-profile individuals to COVID-19 patients called the intel-link analysis practiced by the police. This will be channeled into the 'cognitive interviewing' by the cops included in the contact tracers. This also will place the cops' investigative skills crucial into the contact tracing.

Even with the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the city, Ferro said the attained systematic contact tracing will be not too late to apply at present.  GAN (FREEMAN)