What seems to have worked so far?

COVID-19 remains the favorite topic of most news reports until now. With no reliable, effective vaccine confirmed, the pandemic will continue to hog the headlines for some time. The urgency remains the same: how to contain the virus and save lives?

Months into this pandemic, what have we observed about the coronavirus cases in our areas? Have the cases increased, decreased, or have the numbers remained unchanged?

According to last Tuesday’s news, there were about 34 barangays with no new cases reported. While this report is one to be grateful about, there is also the caution that this is not yet the time to celebrate.

The public would have wanted to know and see these 34 barangays mapped out during the news reporting. It would also have helped if added info explained if these barangays showed consistent decrease in or zero new cases in the past days or weeks.

What is clear is the importance and continuing need for regular data tracking and monitoring with the analyses and results publicly shared and disseminated.

Undoubtedly, regular, reliable COVID-related data, especially barangay and sitio data, has helped focus attention for containing the virus within more manageable geographic locations, resulting in more area-specific quarantine protocols.

This so-called granular approach has resulted in less strict quarantine protocols for areas with fewer number of cases but stricter, tighter quarantine regulations for areas with high number.

Barangays and sitios have also benefited from learning about their area’s data. They have mobilized together to keep the cases from increasing and also to keep the cases low or even hit zero, as far as possible.

Barangay officials who have understood the value of data have helped set up barangay FB pages with daily data trackers. These pro-active barangay officials and residents have also cooperated and continue to collaborate with city and other EOC-IATF officials for data-collection, review, confirmation as well as regulating and monitoring of cases in their respective areas.

Awareness of the number of cases in their barangays and sitios can encourage the stricter compliance for wearing masks, keeping social distancing, and other health protocols within communities. Data can help heighten awareness about how residents and barangays/sitios can work individually and collectively to contain the virus in their areas.

Additionally and definitely, a must-do for LGUs is having a clear flowchart guiding people with COVID symptoms where to go for appropriate response. This flowchart directing people with symptoms to the nearest barangay isolation centers, to cluster clinics, quarantine facilities -- continues to be very helpful for all.

Another follow-up must-do: make every effort to have this vital flowchart known to all soonest, repeatedly.

Finally, a very vital must-do pre-requisite for all LGUS – make these COVID-responsive centers, clinics and quarantine facilities readily and publicly available, accessible and adequately, regularly supplied with staff and resources.

When the public realizes and is assured that they will be properly taken care of when they experience COVID-related symptoms in these response centers, hospitals will no longer be clogged, with serious cases properly responded to.

Barangay/sitio data also provide useful information for contact tracing. Knowing where the cases are can easily guide contact tracers to collect and map out more information about the possible spread of the virus within specified period of time.

Please publicly share the results of contact tracking as the information will help widen people’s understanding/knowledge about the virus, how it spreads across people/areas and may help people realize even more the value of social distancing, protecting oneself with face masks, and complying with other health protocols.

Just as data guided the way to hopeful virus containment in barangays/sitios, let data lead to effective protocols for business and other locations next.