At least 144 job order employees of the San Carlos City government are undergoing COVID-19 surveillance testing, which began Monday, January 5.
Dr. Jessa Tiapon, Health Cluster leader of the city’s Emergency Operations Center, said the local government has prioritized those from barangays 2, 3, 6, Rizal and Punao for now, and will later add barangays 1, 5 and Palampas, depending on the availability of test kits.
If the results of the rapid anti-body tests yield positive results, they will be swabbed for Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests, she said.
The move to have JOs undergo surveillance testing was mandated through Memorandum Circular No. 01 issued by Mayor Renato Gustilo to ensure the safety of employees in the various departments of the city government.
In the memo, only JOs who live in high-risk areas were recommended to be tested.
The city government said that non-cooperation of the order “shall be dealt with accordingly.”
APPEAL
Meanwhile, Gustilo appealed to Barangay Rizal residents to cooperate with the city government’s effort to fight coronavirus.
Gustilo asked the residents, especially house-cared or bedridden individuals, to undergo the COVID-19 swab testing since they are the most vulnerable sector. If they test positive, they will be cared for by the city government, he said.
It is important to identify individuals who are COVID-19 positive so immediate health intervention can be made to prevent further transmission, he said
Gustilo added that quarantined residents will be provided with assistance and food packs.
The city government earlier reported that most of the fatalities in San Carlos were bedridden individuals who had not been outside their homes for a very long time.*