Quezon City hires 300 contact tracers

MANILA, Philippines – The Quezon City government has employed 300 contact tracers to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

“Aggressive contact tracing is key to testing the right population. We have to keep pace with new infections by forming groups of contact tracers to be able to immediately identify those who had close contact with COVID-19 patients,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said yesterday.

Rolando Cruz, chief of the city’s Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, said the contact tracers underwent intensive training on tracing protocols, proper use and disposal of personal protective equipment, effective communication and interviews.

“We have formed 30 teams of contact tracers. Our goal is to inform and educate those who have been exposed to the virus about quarantine protocols to reduce virus transmission,” Cruz said.

He said the pool of tracers are composed of registered nurses, medical technologists, Philippine National Police contingents and at least two persons enlisted by each barangay.

The local government has reinforced its COVID-19 Response Center by adding 25 phone profilers and 30 encoders to attend to questions and concerns about the disease.