WHAT’S the community quarantine for without a clear and systematic widespread testing for COVID-19?
The recent statements of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque that the government has no plans for mass testing, targeting only two of the population, and passing the burden to the private sector as it eases restrictions of the community quarantine is unacceptable. The World Health Organization itself said widespread testing is key in containing COVID-19.
The statements revealed that this administration still has no comprehensive and systematic medical solution in combating this virus after two months of enhanced community quarantine. Is targeting two percent of the population for testing enough? This is doubtful. Government should target widespread testing and not just a small percentage of the population. Of course, it should include all suspected and probable cases, senior citizens and those with pre-existing conditions, and people in high-risk communities.
This is the first step in combating the coronavirus — we must be able to swiftly identify and isolate suspected, probable and confirmed COVID-19 patients and inform all those who they may have had contact with to also isolate and monitor their health for symptoms. These, of course, will not be effective if the Duterte administration continues its sluggish response and make more excuses of how it cannot implement widespread testing.
The national government should stop blaming local government units and critics, stop passing primary responsibility to the people to the private sector, and realize that because of its slow response and neglect for adequate medical solutions, controlling the wide spread of this virus remains doubtful.
The Duterte administration was already given additional powers to ensure medical solutions to combat COVID-19 and strengthen the public health system. How can it say it is helpless to conduct widespread testing, and worse, pass the task to the profit-oriented private sector?
House Assistant Minority Leader Rep. France Castro expressed the public’s frustration clearly: “Walang plano sa mass testing, walang plano para sa sistematikong contact tracing at kulang pa rin ang mga isolation at quarantine facilities. Dalawang buwan na tayong pinakulong ng gobyerno sa ilalim ng enhanced community quarantine, hanggang ngayon wala pa ring ginagawang konkretong solusyong medikal ang gobyerno.”
Community quarantine alone will not stop the spread of COVID-19. If the Duterte administration continues its snail-paced testing, contact tracing, inadequate isolation and quarantine facilities, the two months of quarantine would have been for nothing. While the private sector should also ensure the health and safety of its workers, government should be the first to ensure the health and safety of the people.
