Koronadal City, South Cotabato – The Provincial Government of South Cotabato (PGSC), in its fight against COVID-19 has continued to implement a strict border lockdown through a “No CCTS Card, No Entry Policy.”
The new executive order of Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr. provides for policies that would lessen, if not stop, the spread of the virus, such as regular handwashing, temperature checking, wearing of face masks and face shields, and using every individual’s CCTS cards wherever he goes, especially whenever he enters an establishment within the province.
The South Cotabato COVID-19 Contact Tracing System (SC-CCTS) has been in place since June 2020, and was proven to be fast, simple. inclusive, and effective in tracing possible close contacts of COVID-19 confirmed positive patients.
Just a few months after its implementation, one patient was proven to have more than five hundred (500) possible close contacts, the latter being traced in less than five (5) minutes.
After identifying their names and contact numbers, a text blast was already sent to all of them, asking them to undergo a 14-day self-isolation and requesting them to monitor themselves for possible symptoms. Should they acquire any symptom, they were instructed to coordinate with their Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) immediately, for them to be transferred to the isolation facilities or the COVID-19 Hospital in Surallah, as the case may be.
