Gov. Arthur Yap assures the Boholano public that despite the spike in the number of coronavirus disease (Covid) cases in Bohol, the situation here remains “manageable” and the provincial government is on top of the situation.
In a radio interview during the program Open Forum on Tuesday, August 18, 2020, hosted by Ardy Batoy and Dave Albarado, the governor made the assurance that the Covid situation remains under control because the number of community transmission cases, (around 16), is relatively small compared to the province’s population at 1.4 million.
However, the governor expressed caution on being overconfident about the situation.
“We have to be careful, Kinahanglan magbantay ta. Dili ta mokumpyansa,” the governor said.
In the same interview, the governor also said that there is a special focus on containing the community transmission cases in Malingin Island where there are at least 16 community transmission cases recorded as of this writing. The governor stressed the need to contain the problem in Malingin Island and avoid the situation from getting worse.
The move is at the front seat in terms of the intervention being implemented by the local government unit of Bien Unido with the cooperation of the provincial government.
Yap’s statement comes at a time that there is a rise in the Covid cases especially those categorized as “community transmission”. It is always explained by health authorities that community transmission happens when the source of the virus is undetermined and those infected have no travel history from places known to have a high number of cases of Covid.
On Tuesday, August 18, 2020, the governor reported seven (7) Covid-positive cases, where four (4) are from Malingin Island, Bien Unido, considered to be products of the contact tracing efforts of the Rural Health Unit (RHU) of the town and medical technologists from the Provincial Health Office (PHO).
It is also reported that the provincial government sent help in terms of relief goods to Malingin Island, which is under lockdown in order to contain the spread of the highly contagious disease.
DEPLOYMENT OF HEALTH MARSHALS
In relation to the control of the spread of the disease, Yap issued a memorandum to Bohol mayors about the designation and detail of health marshals in public and densely-populated places. The health marshals are tasked to monitor the compliance of health and safety protocols and measures being put in place to address the health threat posed by the Covid pandemic.
The governor stressed in his memorandum the need to enhance the local government’s mechanism to monitor the public’s compliance of the implementation of health measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
The Bohol Tribune is publishing the stipulations of the memorandum on the deployment of health marshals signed by Yap on August 14, 2020.
1. The Local Chief Executives of municipalities and city in the Province of Bohol shall designate and assign health marshals;
2. These health marshals in every barangay shall be in charge of the monitoring the public, compliance with health and safety protocols against COVID-19 and report violations to the proper authorities charged with the enforcement of COVID-19 health measures;
3. The health marshals shall be stationed in public places such as but not limited to:
a. Public markets
b. Fish ports
c. Slaughterhouses
d. Dining establishments
e. Churches and other places of worship
f. Passenger terminals
g. Other public places at the Mayor’s discretion which the Mayor deems AS necessary;
4. The health marshals shall assist and coordinate with Barangay officials, the Philippine National Police, and the proper health authorities to strictly monitor and enforcement of the COVID-19 health and safety measures and protocols; and
5. Violators of safety and health protocols who may avail of the Bayanihan Diversion Program issued by the undersigned may be designated and assigned as health marshals by the. Provincial Legal Officer.
SETTING AN EXAMPLE
The governor also allayed the fears of some Boholanos regarding his health. The governor is known to be traveling a lot around the province and exposing himself to different kinds of people.
He told Batoy and Albarado in the radio interview that he makes sure that he is religiously observing all the health protocols including social distancing and wearing of protective equipment such as face the shield and the face mask.
The governor is seen in photos posted by Capitol media on social media that he has been observing the minimum health protocols.
This week, he visited several towns in the province including the town of Guindulman, according to the governor when asked about his activities.
He also visited the towns of Alicia and Duero. The governor was present during the distribution of rice packs (with one rice pack to each family) together with the release of the Bohol card to be used for contact tracing.