Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 16) — The national government will localize the implementation of the national plan against COVID-19.
National Task Force COVID-19 spokesperson Restituto Padilla said Thursday that Metro Manila mayors have agreed to carry out the plan down to the barangay “to contain, isolate, and eliminate the threat, and mitigate the impact of this crisis.”
Padilla said local leaders in Central Luzon have agreed to do the same.
The plan consists of detecting, isolating and treating COVID-19 patients before reintegrating them into the community.
For now, the National Task Force is asking local governments to focus on testing suspected patients, treating the infected and tracing those who came in close contact with them.
A number of local governments, including the cities of Quezon, Valenzuela, Pasig and Manila City, have begun mass testing efforts.
