There is an ongoing clustering of the confirmed Covid-19 cases at the South Cotabato Rehabilitation and Detention Center (SCRDC) after at least 115 personnel and persons deprived of liberty (PDL) were tested positive of the virus from May 25 to June 10, 2021, the Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (PESU) reports.
The Integrated Provincial Health Office through the PESU has conducted outright contact tracing following the report of the said incident.
Health Education and Promotions Officer Hannah Ebeo said that anybody who has developed cough and fever even without the following symptoms such as loss of smell and/or taste, body malaise, colds and sore throat were subject to the RT-PCR test of which, at least 135 specimens were sent to the Covid -testing Laboratory in Koronadal City.
Out of the 115 cases, 100 were identified as PDLs while 15 were personnel of the SCRDC.
The report also reveals that 110 or 95.6 percent of the confirmed cases were classified as mild and on quarantine; while five (5) or 4.4 percent were admitted at the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital (SCPH).
To date, four were already discharged from the hospital and one (1) remains in admission.
Ebeo disclosed that concerned offices from the provincial government of South Cotabato and the City Health Office of Koronadal City have joined hands to conduct various interventions to eradicate the spread of the virus at the detention cells.
For the SCRDC, they have conducted quarantine of suspected cases and isolation of confirmed cases, active case finding of suspect cases, manifesting Influenza-like illnesses and covid-19 signs and symptoms, management of symptomatic cases, disinfection, and conduct of health education.
The IPHO spearheaded the collection of specimens and testing, provided facemask for PDLs and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for SCRDC personnel, and conducted health education.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office conducted disinfection of the SCRDC grounds.
The Provincial General Services Office provided the isolation facility for confirmed cases for SCRDC Personnel.
The SCPH conducted the case management and specimen collection, while the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) provided medicines and supplies.
The City Health Office of Koronadal City on the other hand also helped in the collection of specimens and provided an isolation facility for confirmed cases from the SCRDC personnel.
Despite these interventions, the PESU recommends continuous active case finding, symptoms-based monitoring collection, and testing; continuous quarantine, isolation, and management of cases and vaccination of population in closed-setting against covid-19.
