House-to-house search set in 10 Metro Manila barangays

MANILA, Philippines — The government is set to conduct a house-to-house check in 10 barangays in Metro Manila to find possible coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.

The Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) initiative will be implemented for the next two weeks in Pinagbuhatan, Pasig; Addition Hills, Mandaluyong; Sucat, Muntinlupa; Potrero, Malabon; Pembo, Makati; San Antonio, Parañaque; Barangay 12, Caloocan; Batasan Hills, Quezon City; CAA-BF International, Las Piñas; and Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing.

“We are not targeting because we do not even know who among them have symptoms or exposure.  What we are targeting are areas with clustering of infection. In the next two weeks, there are 10 barangays that will be visited by the CODE teams,” she said.

Those with symptoms and exposure to confirmed cases will be isolated and tested.

“We will also check the status of compliance of those undergoing home quarantine. We have observed that a lot of our positive individuals who are staying at home are not really compliant with the single bedroom, single comfort room and no vulnerable population at home (policies),” Vergeire said.

She assured the public that there will be “extensive contact tracing and swabbing of those who are eligible to be swabbed.” – Christina Mendez