On May 3, 2021, I received the following SMS from SafeDavaoQR:
An e-mail with the following content was sent to a doctor on May 18, 2021, hoping that concerns related to the Safe Davao QR mass swab effort would be communicated to the authorities and somehow addressed. While there have been additional swab centers opened to the public since then, apparently, the same issues are still being experienced by Davaoeños as of this blog post.
---
Hello Doc,
I have to raise few concerns with the mass swab testing --- hoping that
you would be able to get these across to the higher committee handling the
program.
These were based on personal experience falling under F3 more than 2
weeks ago.
1. On May 3, 2021, many grocery shoppers, those who went to NCCC
Cabantian, probably between April 20 and May 1, received a notification
from SafeDavaoQR subjecting us for Swab Test at Sta. Ana Health Center
(SAHC). There were hotline numbers provided so we can schedule our
appointment ---all of which are unreachable (even up to this writing). I
attempted several calls, but to no avail.
2. I complied with the internal memorandum --notifying the barangay as
well as, the company clinic about the SMS advisory. I also relayed the
hotline number concern and I was advised to proceed directly at the said
center.
3. On May 5th, I arrived little past 8:00am at SAHC only to be welcomed
with a crowd of people lining up for the swab testing. My queue number
was already at 96. People would sit from one chair to another in order
to move forward to the queue.
These are my concerns:
1. I had been very careful not to go to crowded places but getting a
swab test only exposed me to the COVID risks at the site.
2. SAHC caters not only F2 and F3, but they also do swab testing for F1
--- who would turn out with the highest probability of getting positive
results. Imagine that at one point, I got to sit in one of those chairs
where a COVID positive had also occupied. While I made sure of the
necessary disinfection right I went home but how about those other
people there who were less cautious about the possible transmission?
3. I had to wait several days for the results to come out --while I
could be patient about this, what was bothering is that I would have to
physically get the official results back at SAHC (I have not still
secured mine to prevent risk exposure at the site, besides, it would no
longer be relevant considering that I am on my 22nd day since the
possible exposure at NCCC Cabantian on April 26th). They provided the
hotline numbers for the result confirmation but again, these are not
reachable.
Here are the personal suggestions:
1. Take advantage of the SafeDavaoQR tool: The system is capable of
generating how many recipients would have to undergo swab testing
---which may be used to organize the schedule of testing (automated
appointment booking) and limit the number of people going to a swab
center. Furthermore, there is the age information so SMS recipients who
are senior citizens get prioritized for testing. SafeDavaoQR could send
the schedule automatically, allowing the recipient to confirm with a YES
or NO to book the appointment ---the latter can now be manually handled
by checking their preferred dates via call or even via the SafeDavaoQR
profile (same as how Passport Application Online Appointments are done).
2. Safer on-site management: People who would be scheduled for
appointments on the day should have an allotted space on site so they
can just be in one location up to the time of swab collection. If
walk-ins are anticipated, maybe they would also be given with specific
number and corresponding waiting space so they do not have to move from
one place to another.
3. Enhance overall communication systems: Resolve the hotline issues and
prevent misinformation by not posting non-operational numbers at any
official communication media (e.g. Facebook, SMS notification, etc.).
Since the Data Privacy Act is already in effect when using the
SafeDavaoQR, why not use the same facility to post updates related to
the swab results and/or release them via SMS and e-mail address linked
to the DQR profile.
I am speaking as part of the community po, Doc and not as an auditor. I
know someone who recently lost his father to COVID and I somehow believe
that no matter how small the improvements can be made in our fight
against the virus, it can create impact, eventually save lives in the
future.
Thank you for reading this e-mail and stay safe!
Glayra
---
Earlier that day, I talked to a representative of Safe Davao QR Facebook page as a first move to share my thoughts - see screenshots below.
I may have little knowledge on what is truly happening on the ground and how complex COVID governance must be but I sincerely hope that somebody would think these through.
"no matter how small the improvements can be made in our fight against the virus, it can create impact, eventually save lives in the future..."
Additional Notes:
- Click here for the EO No. 20 Series of 2021 - An order providing for mandatory swabbing of all F1, F2, and F3 contacts of an RT-PCR confirmed positive case of COVID-19 in Davao City
- Here's where it gets more interesting, the RT-PCR mass swab testing may not be entirely the most effective health response, read this and connect the dots. I can only imagine the disarray.
- SAHC operations have been suspended starting June 16th after eight (8) positive staff cases (link). I wonder if there are data showing transmission back to swab sites.
- Resources are either scarce or mismanaged (link). There is a wide gap between strategy and execution.
