Can we do better?

With Cebu City residents, we are very much alarmed, concerned, and upset to know that the city had the most number of COVID-19 cases all throughout the country.

DOH data for June 9 (02:00 PM PST) showed 2417 cases for Cebu City, with 69 admitted, 124 recovered and 23 dead.

Definitely, for everyone’s protection, it is imperative to curb the increase and flatten the curve soonest possible.

Despite the best efforts of the local government officials to address the COVID-19 issue, the increasing statistics attest to the need for more effective organization, initiatives, and responses to lower, if not completely, flatten the number of COVID-19 cases in the city.

What else can, should be done?

Foremost, the whole city should trace the factors causing the increase in cases. Were the medical protocols not followed (handwashing, social distancing, staying home, wearing of face masks)? Were mass testing, contact tracing, protective facilities and resources lacking?

Since COVID-19 has many dimensions and repercussions that need to be addressed simultaneously and comprehensively, it is very clear that no single team can win the battle against it. Coordinated team work and everyone’s cooperation are crucial.

To trace the causes, the city’s COVID-19 task force should have collaborative, evidence-based, multisectoral teams that will separately, but in an integrated manner, concentrate on 1) health and medical issues ( medical protocols, mass testing, contact tracing plus availability and situation of medical facilities and resources (masks, PPEs, ventilators, hospital bed capacity available, others), 2) quarantine regulations (compliance, challenges, transport, others), 3) socio-economic issues (food supply and distribution, employment, others), 4) data and research to collate and analyze information from the other teams, and, 5) public information (regular dissemination of covid-19 statistics, location, possible explanations of trends per week/month per barangay, etc).

Other teams may be added as needed. An overall multi-party, multisectoral task force should have representatives from the various suggested teams.

Second, policy and practice have to be anchored on evidence-based, accessible, reliable field data about the COVID-19 cases and issues.

Aside from the DOH database, with academe and researchers, it may help if Cebu City has its independent data and research center to analyze reliably collected local data, if possible, on real time. Cebu City can request to use the DOH COVID-19 monitoring system which involves the participation for data collection and submission of hospitals, clinics, possibly barangays, businesses, others.

Better still, they can request the participating data providers to also send Cebu City COVID-19 Data and Research Center real time data of 1) COVID-19 patients, their total number of cases per day by status (admission, recovery, deaths,, their confidential identities, their location, their contact tracing data, others; 2) mass testing (how many have been tested on what date, percent tested over total community population, date and time of testing, date and time of test results), others; 3) monitoring of quarantine protocols (wearing face masks, maintaining social distancing, hand washing); if possible, 4) Problems and Needs encountered.

The Data and Research Center team and the public information team can prepare and publicly disseminate easy to understand daily/weekly data/analyses of COVID-19 cases, their number, location, possible factors for increase. Sharing the information publicly can help alert residents and communities to take extra precaution and be involved in the campaign to stop or flatten the increase.

The health/medical team should regularly monitor and review existing medical conditions, personnel, facilities and services, mass testing, contact tracing, others. The recent suicide of a COVID-19 patient highlights the pressing need for guidance and counseling for saving hope and lives.

Together, pause, review existing task force, policies, and practices. Trace causes of increases. Retain or shift to effective strategies to protect all.