NATIONAL Task Force Against Covid-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. said they are monitoring 17 focus areas and the National Capital Region (NCR).
In his report to President Rodrigo Duterte Monday night, August 31, 2020, Galvez said the list includes the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Batangas in Calabarzon region.
In Central Luzon, the task force is monitoring Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan and Zambales.
In Western Visayas, the task force is focused on Iloilo City, Iloilo province, Bacolod City and Negros Occidental province.
He said they have sent 400 doses of remdesivir, a drug that was used to treat ebola, through Biocare as well as 2,000 sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) and five high-flow nasal cannula to Bacolod City, where some patients are in severe condition.
Galvez said he also visited Northern Mindanao region, where Iligan City is situated.
Iligan was reverted to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) effective September 1 because of an increase in coronavirus infections.
Under MECQ, public transportation systems are suspended and only essential businesses are allowed to operate. Only the frontliners and essential personnel are allowed to step out of their homes.
Galvez also said he received a call from Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle "Bing" Climaco-Salazar, who requested for test kits.
Meanwhile, Galvez said efforts to build critical care capacity have continued with the construction of around 1,000 additional beds for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients in Metro Manila.
The additional beds will be provided at the Philippine General Hospital, Rizal Hospital and Quezon Institute.
"Dahil kasi pagka nagplano po tayo na magluwag sa ekonomiya, kailangan po talaga palakasin po natin - ang ano po - ang treatment facility po natin especially po 'yung ICU at ating mga ER," Galvez said.
(We need to boost our capacity to treat patients, especially in the intensive care units and emergency rooms, if we plan to further open up the economy.)
Aside from Metro Manila, Galvez said they were looking at urban centers which remain at risk of experiencing another surge in Covid-19 cases with the reopening of the economy. (Marites Villamor-Ilano/VoxPop Philippines)