By CONG B. CORRALES, Associate Editor

BARANGAY Health Emergency Response Teams (Bherts) in the city, working to prevent the spread of Covid-19, found 602 “persons under monitoring” (PUMs). Of the people classified as PUMs, 319 are females while 283 are males.

Dr. Claire Paglinawan, head of the City Health Office’s Public Health Technical Division, said the increase in the number of PUMs in the city was due to the ongoing house-to-house profiling being carried out by various Bherts in the city’s 80 barangays.

“Midaghan naang mga PUMs tungod sa mga barangay health workers nato nga naga-monitor kada balay. Puro nia mga naka-house quarantine,” she told reporters.

Paglinawan, however, pointed out that the number of PUMs in the city should not be a cause for alarm.

“Ang mga PUMs kay dili pasabot nga positive na dayon sa virus. Aduna lang ni sila’y travel history. Our Bherts are monitoring them closely ug ginabisitahan every day,” she explained.

Of the 602 PUMs, 453 are still under home quarantine while 149 others have completed the mandatory 14-day quarantine period.

She said the Bherts started receiving reports of PUMs since Feb. 5. Since then, the CHO has established separate triage area outside the city-run JR Borja Memorial General Hospital to prevent contagion and a separate consultation area for people with acute respiratory infections.

“The nightly disinfection of the city streets and other public places are ongoing,” said Paglinawan.

Dr. Lorraine Nery, city health officer, said they are also establishing isolation areas for every barangay for people who could not afford social distancing in their homes.

“Ang mga naka-home quarantine nga mga PUMs nga naay travel history kay tsada man og mga balay. Dili nato hulatan nga mudaghan pa. Dapat unhan na nato pagtukod og isolation areas para adtong mga imposible mag-social distancing kay gagmay kaayo’g mga balay,” Nery said.

As of 1:42 pm yesterday, the Department of Health has listed 380 Covid-19 cases throughout the country. The DOH said 17 patients have recovered from the disease but 25 died.