The Sipalay City government will now require close contacts of COVID-19 positive patients to undergo mandatory RT-PCR tests because of the “alarming increase” of cases in the locality.
In an advisory Thursday night, May 6, the city government said that the local Inter-Agency Task Force will “strictly enforce the mandatory swab testing for all contact traced individuals as per contact tracers’ report.”
It added that a demand letter will be issued to those who will refuse to cooperate.
The City Health Office also conducted a mandatory swabbing for all contact traced market vendors and stall owners on Friday, May 7.
Other market vendors, stall owners, and helpers were also encouraged to submit themselves for voluntary swab testing.
Those who undergo a swab test received a food pack, while an additional P1,000 financial assistance will be released to each person a week after.
The city government advised the individuals whose swab samples were taken to undergo a mandatory home quarantine until their test results are released.
The barangay health workers will monitor their home quarantine compliance.
If their test results are positive, they will remain in their homes and wait for the instructions of the CHO and the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.*