RIATF: Treat the dead as ‘positive’ pending swab results

CEBU, Philippines —  The Regional Inter-Agency Task Force Agency has agreed with the Cebu City Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on the directive to consider as "positive" all dead persons awaiting COVID-19 test results.

This was relayed by EOC deputy chief implementer and City Councilor Joel Garganera after his latest meeting with the RIATF officials.

“With the RIATF, we are one. Nagkahiusa mi nga if a person is a PUI (person under investigation) or a PUM (person under monitoring) and subject to a swab test, we will treat him or that person nga namatay as a COVID case. It’s better to be safe than be sorry,” said Garganera.

This after a resident of Cogon Pardo who died and was released from a government hospital without the COVID-19 test result was later found to be positive. Contact tracing became difficult after many who had attended the wake could not be traced.

Garganera said the incident is now being investigated.

“We are now investigating why it (patient) was released without the swab test result,” said Garganera.

Aside from the investigation, Garganera said the EOC is also currently formulating guidelines on the conduct of funeral services and wakes that will also be shared with the RIATF.

After the guidelines will be formulated already, it will be forwarded to Mayor Edgardo Labella for implementation.

DOH-7 Concurs

Department of Health-7’s Dr. Mary Jean Loreche agrees with what EOC and the rest of RIATF’s view with regard to those PUIs and PUMs who died without the result of their tests known.

“I agree with that. It has to be our mindset that everyone has COVID unless proven otherwise,” said Loreche.

As per DOH guidelines, those who died of the coronavirus should be cremated within 12 hours. The family of the deceased are also discouraged from attending the services for their own safety.

Under the IATF’s omnibus guidelines, mass gatherings such as but not limited to movie screenings, concerts, sporting events, and other entertainment activities, religious services, and work conferences shall be allowed provided that participants shall be limited to fifty percent (50%) of the seating or venue capacity.

Visits to open-air memorial parks and cemeteries, on the other hand, shall be limited to not more than 10 persons per group.

The number of groups allowed at any given time shall be left to the discretion of the management of such memorial parks and cemeterie, taking into consideration minimum public health standards and social distancing as per IATF Resolution No. 49. —  Decemay P. Padilla,JMD (FREEMAN)