Lipa, Batangas guarding against dengue amid pandemic

Due to the rainy season, the local government of Lipa City, Batangas, is guarding against dengue amid the COVID-19 pandemic, after it reached the outbreak level last year.

In August 2019, up to 400 dengue cases were recorded in Lipa.

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“Wala pa atang 10 ngayon dahil [sa] COVID. At saka ang mga bata ngayon ay usually ay nasa loob lang ng kanilang bahay. Tsaka siguro walang ibang gagawin ang mga bata at mga magulang kundi maglinis ng kanilang bahay. Ang ulan ngayon, hindi kagaya noong isang taon, maaga pa umuulan na at dami pang inuulan noon. Ngayon, umuulan pero madalang,” said Dr. Alex Silang of the Lipa City health office.

According to the city health office, they have not yet started the routine fogging in each barangay because the LGU is focused on controlling the increase in the number of COVID-19 patients in the city.

But he assured that the LGU is ready for dengue.

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He also said that their program against tuberculosis is uninterrupted, and activities continue under the national immunization program.

“Wala tayong kuwan ngayon sa dengue pero ang ating priority ngayon sa COVID. Pero pinaghahandaan na rin natin ‘yung sa dengue. Nakahanda na ‘yung ating mga fogging machine tsaka misting machine natin. Tuloy tuloy ang ating mga programs sa tuberculosis, sa ating immunization doon sa ating NIP. Tuloy-tuloy din ang ating pagbabakuna ng flu vaccine sa mga senior at tsaka yung sa mga buntis natin,” said Silang.

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Lipa, Batangas on guard against dengue amid pandemic

Hospitals in the city are now full because of COVID-19.

“At saka ‘yung ating isolation facility ay puno na rin sa COVID positive. ‘Yun namang asymptomatic ay doon natin dinadala. Pero ‘yung mga moderate to severe ay syempre nasa ospital,” Silang said.

So in a report to the people of Lipa on Tuesday, Mayor Eric Africa asked the residents to prepare their respective houses as temporary isolation facilities.

Despite this, according to Silang, hospitals are still able to accept patients with other ailments.

The Department of Health Calabarzon sent an additional healthcare worker to Lipa to assist in the ongoing contact tracing here.