Airport passengers told: Download COVID-19 ‘Traze’ app

CEBU, Philippines —  Travelers arriving or departing from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) are urged to download the government’s contact tracing application, Traze.

Traze app, which is available at Play Store or App Store, was co-developed by the Philippine Ports Authority and Cosmotech Philippines Inc. to track and contact travelers in case of a COVID-positive passenger.

The use of the app is in line with the directive of Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade to help improve the efficiency of government efforts in battling the spread of the COVID-19 within the aviation and airports sector.

By the end of November, all travelers will be required to use Traze.

Starting November 28, all arriving and departing airport passengers will be required to download the app on their smartphones.

Travelers will need to register and activate an account, then scan the QR codes at designated areas in the airport, and provide the needed information.

Travelers without smartphones are advised to approach the Malasakit helpdesks located at Terminal 1 Departure Grand Lobby and Terminal 2 Arrivals.

Once someone with COVID-19 is identified, an in-app notification will be sent to persons this passenger may have had contact with. Individuals who may have been exposed are advised to immediately isolate themselves and practice other sanitation precautionary measures.

Andrew Harrison, GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC) chief executive advisor, expressed support for the initiative.

“We fully support this great initiative by the government that ensures the safety of the passengers and the entire airport community through automated contact tracing. This also enhances the efficiency of contact tracing at the airport as it reduces the previous manual process,” he said in a statement.

Lawyer Steve Dicdican, Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority general manager and chief executive officer, lauded the national government’s efforts to streamline contact tracing in public transportation.

“We welcome this unified contact tracing system to further reassure our passengers that we are doing everything possible to help contain COVID-19.”

“By using a QR code, Traze speeds up to an instant the tedious, time-consuming, and inaccurate manual contact tracing process among all departing and arriving passengers,” he said.

Pilot testing of Traze started in some of the country’s major gateways, such as Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Clark International Airport, Davao International Airport, and MCIA.

At MCIA, the testing began on October 28.

Zero health protocol violators

Meanwhile, restaurants offering dine-in services have been compliant with coronavirus-related health protocols, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Central Visayas said.

DTI-7 Consumer Protection Division chief Ines Cajegas said food-related businesses are still strictly enforcing the health protocols despite the relaxed quarantine status.

“Based on our recent report, there are no violators of the health protocols. They are complying with the protocols,” she said.

The wearing of face masks and shields and the mandatory checking of body temperature are among the preventive measures the establishments are implementing to ease the spread of COVID-19.

Customers who wish to dine in are also required to fill out health declaration forms and information sheets for contact tracing.

Restaurants and fast-food establishments under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) areas are allowed to cater to dine-in customers at 75 percent of their seating capacity.

They are allowed to operate until 11 in the evening and 24 hours for delivery services. — Sanden J. Anadia, KQD (FREEMAN)