The Department of Health (DOH) is recruiting health workers to be sent to Aklan province in response to the request of Governor Florencio Miraflores amid the escalation in the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients.
During a virtual presser on Wednesday, Dr. Glen Alonsabe, chief of the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) of the DOH Western Visayas Center for Health Development (WV CHD), said they have posted on their website a call for applicants, specifically for Nurse 1 and Medical Officer III positions, who are willing to be assigned in Aklan.
However, it was not mentioned how many will be hired.
The province, currently on modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), has been experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases since May 2021.
In the August 3 regional case bulletin of the DOH WV CHD, Aklan has recorded 595 new cases, the highest among the provinces and highly urbanized cities in the region.
The new cases raised the total active cases of Aklan to 2,137. It also has 95 recorded deaths and 6,535 recoveries.
In the same presser, Dr. Daphynie Teorima, spokesperson of the DOH WV CHD, said the province is currently at moderate risk.
The DOH situational report as of August 1 showed that 98 of the province’s 108 ward beds dedicated to Covid-19 have been occupied and 98 percent of their admission are critical cases.
Ten of its 17 municipalities also reported clustering of cases from July 19 until August 1.
Teorima said that while the DOH has been sending support, yet the LGU should also prepare their health workers in response to the surge.
On August 1, Miraflores issued Executive Order (EO) No. 019 providing restrictions and protocols in the province after the national Inter-Agency Task Force granted the request of the province “to arrest the increasing trend of confirmed Covid-19 cases and prevent the total collapse of the local health system of Aklan”.
Only Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APORs), repatriated overseas Filipino workers or returning overseas Filipinos of Aklan with quarantine certificates, and returning Aklanons with notice of coordination and acceptance from their municipality of destination will be allowed to enter the province.
On the other hand, the movement of persons within the province will be limited to accessing goods and services from permitted establishments, work or activities that are allowed during the MECQ.
The EO also requires non-essential travelers to secure travel pass for those going to another municipality or quarantine pass for inter-barangay movement.
While public transportation is allowed, the EO mandates “not to board persons or no face masks or face shields” otherwise face administrative fines.
The MECQ classification will be until August 15, 2021 unless extended or shortened. (PNA)
