Lazatin strengthens COVID-19 awareness drive in AC

Posted on March 17, 2020 by Admin

ANGELES CITY – Mayor Carmelo ‘Pogi’ Lazatin Jr. is beefing up its drive against COVID-19, as the City Government has started a massive awareness campaign at the ground level, where more than 100,000 Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials will be distributed in every household in 33 barangays here.

According to Mayor Lazatin, this is to prominently raise the awareness of his constituents regarding the disease, as well as to provide factual and accurate information so that there will be no spreading of fake news or misinformation at the grassroots.

The IEC flyers are also aimed at educating the general public on how to protect themselves from the possible infection, he said.

Moreover, he is also encouraging everyone to be a responsible social media user in sharing information to avoid creating panic. He then said to just follow reliable and credible sites such as the Department of Health (DOH), World Health of Organization (WHO), Facebook pages of the City Government and media outlets.

“We all have roles to do. Let us obey our community quarantine policies to maintain the zero COVID-19 case in the City,” he added.

The Mayor already tasked Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel to coordinate with Gender and Development (GAD) Office, headed by Mina Cabiles, for the distribution of the leaflets in every household.

According to her, this is part of the City’s communication plan to address the specific problem in the country, following the declaration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (PRRD) of a public health emergency.

The leaflets, she said, contain the following guidelines to a systematic response in case there are reported suspected cases at the barangay level:

First, is to call the city hotlines where a Quick Response Team will head to the reported location. The said patient together with his family members whom he had close contact with will undergo of a house quarantine. When the patient is confirmed positive, he will be transferred to the container van set-up near Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center, also known as Ospital Ning Angeles. The house will be disinfected and the patient’s family will be still monitored.

Furthermore, a 24-hour checkpoint in all entry and exit points of the City are already in place to assure public safety. The checkpoints personnel are equipped with thermal scanners.

Apart from this, the City Government imposed curfew hours for minors, from 7 pm to 5 am.