IATF: Disclosure of personal information on COVID-19 cases now mandatory

 

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, spokesman of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease, said they have adopted a policy that require the disclosure of personal information as far as COVID-19 cases are concerned.

 

“The IATF adopts the policy of mandatory public disclosure of personal information relating to positive COVID-19 cases to enhance the contact-tracing efforts of the government,” Nograles said in a virtual press conference on Sunday.

 

Nograles said that the IATF has approved Resolution No. 22 on Wednesday, appointing the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) to lead in the contact-tracing of COVID-19 cases along with the Local Government Units (LGUs).

 

Under the resolution, he explained that the OCD and the Department of Health (DOH) are directed to enter into a data-sharing agreement (DSA) in accordance with the Republic Act No. 10173, or the Data Privacy Act.

 

He said that the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is now one of the agencies exempted on the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine as it will play an important role in the data gathering and survey activities relating to COVID-19.

 

Those works that are related to the registration and implementation of the national identification (ID) system are also exempted from the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

 

He has also reminded the LGUs to allow the movement of workers in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry and in the export-oriented establishments following the extension of the ECQ.

 

The DOH has already reported 4,428 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines with 247 deaths and 157 recoveries as of 4:00 pm on Saturday.

 

As far as testing of COVID-19 cases is concerned, Nograles said that the DOH will issue an updated guidelines or protocols on the use of rapid test kits in the Philippines pursuant to Republic Act No. 11223, or the Universal Health Care Act.

 

Meanwhile, Nograles has reminded the public to strictly observe the physical distancing measure of the government against the coronavirus as he urged the public to stay at home amid the pandemic.

 

He noted that a lot of people have converged at the Balintawak Public Market in Quezon City on Saturday, defeating the social distancing and stay at home measures against the COVID-19.

 

But Nograles emphasized that the Quezon City government has already addressed the issue.

 

“Mabilis naman po inaksyunan ito ng QC LGU at napagkasunduan po na mananatiling bukas ito para po sa wholesale operations pero isasara ito sa retail operations. Yung retail operations po, imbes na doon sa Balintawak, itutuloy po ng QC Fresh Market on Wheels program,” he said.

 

Nograles has also denied reports on Saturday that the DOH has allegedly ordered hospitals in Metro Manila to conceal the number of deaths relating to COVID-19 as he appealed to the public to avoid spreading false information.

 

He said that the IATF will continue to provide the necessary information to the public amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

“This outbreak concerns all of us, so we recognize that it is our responsibility to give you the facts, all the facts, and noting but the facts. You deserve nothing less,” he said.

 

“Uulitin po namin na mag-ingat po tayo sa mga balita o chismis na fino-forward at pino-post. Our efforts to contain the COVID-19 outbreak must be complemented by our efforts to contain misinformation and disinformation,” he added.

 

He also appealed the public to avoid spreading unverified information involving health, about possible remedies for the coronavirus diseases and “similar unsubstantiated claims.”     

 

The statement of Nograles came after broadcaster Arnold Clavio said on social media that a hospital in Metro Manila was allegedly ordered by the DOH to hide the figures involving COVID-19 deaths, and bodies were supposedly piling up at hospitals instead of being cremated.  

 

Responding to Clavio’s allegations, the East Avenue Medical Center said in a statement that it did not receive directive, order or statement either from the DOH or the Quezon City LGU to stop or hold the counting of COVID-19 fatalities.

 

“Deaths related to COVID-19 in East Avenue Medical Center are still being recorded and reported to the Department of Health Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit,” the EAMC said in a statement signed by Dr. Alfonso Nuñez, officer-in-charge of the hospital.

 

The DOH said on Saturday that it will conduct an investigation on the issue.