SAN JOSE, Antique – The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will redeploy 84 contact tracers to this province’s 18 municipalities starting Aug. 23.
DILG Antique provincial director Cherryl Tacda the contact tracers were rehired until Dec. 31 to assist local government units (LGUs) curb the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“The province’s allocation was increased to 84 from 64 in the two previous batches due to the detection of local cases of the Delta variant in Antique,” she said.
Each contact tracer will be paid a monthly salary of P18,875.
With more human resources, LGUs would be able to fast-track their contact tracing, which is very important in preventing the further spread of COVID-19’s more contagious variant.
“The tracing would be up to the second layer,” Tacda said, adding “they will also help monitor COVID-19 cases in isolation facilities and conduct information and education campaign if they have time.”
Antique has 22 detected local cases of the Delta variant based on the report of the Department of Health (DOH) Western Visayas.
“Each LGU, from having previously two contact tracers only, will now have an additional one contact tracer,” Tacda said.
However, LGUs where cases of the more infectious variant were detected and those located in the provincial borders will have at least two more contact tracers.
The island of Caluya will be one of the areas where additional contact tracers will be put on assignment. (PNA)
