San Carlos adopts new app on contact tracing

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The city government of San Carlos in Negros Occidental has developed its own Quick Response code technology application which aims to boost the LGU’s COVID-19 contact tracing efforts.

IT officer Joseph Binghay talks about the application at a briefing.

Joseph Binghay, Information Technology and Computer Services Officer 2,   said the app, called VAMOS  or, the Viral Assessment and Monitoring System, was launched Oct. 28 amid the rising positive coronavirus cases in San Carlos City.

San Carlos City has 243 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

The incidence has increased by more than 250 percent in the past two weeks when the number was reported at only 84 on Oct. 14.

Of the positive cases, the LGU recorded 122 recoveries, 111 active and 10 deaths, as of Oct. 29.

App co-developer Felix Michael Oberes, center, discusses the use of the VAMOS.

Binghay said the formulation of the ordinance is now underway, in preparation for the use of app all over San Carlos City.

Mayor Renato Gustilo has issued  Executive Order No. 235 mandating all  government offices and barangays to use and implement the VAMOS application.

San Carlos City is among 18 areas in the Philippines considered at “high risk” for coronavirus disease by the OCTA Research team based on their high record of daily new cases, attack rate, and hospital occupancy.

A report by the research team dated Oct. 26 warned these areas of possible ‘high hospital burden’ in the coming weeks that may stress healthcare systems and overwhelm medical frontliners.

The OCTA Research advised concerned local governments to intensify their efforts in testing, tracing and isolation to reverse the increase of transmissions at the community level. GPB