Individuals staying in this city seeking authority to travel are now required to register in the Bacolod Contact Tracing (BaCTrac) System.

On Monday afternoon, the City Health Office (CHO), through officer-in-charge Dr. Edwin Miraflor Jr., announced the new health protocol upon the recommendation of the Bacolod City Emergency Operations Center Task Force (EOC-TF) that collects and harmonizes relevant data being transformed into policies for the city’s response against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

In Memorandum Order 102320-01, Miraflor said the CHO discourages chest X-ray as a requirement for a medical certificate as it “does not detect Covid”, adding that Bacolodnons should not be burdened with the cost of X-ray, and rapid test or swab test for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

“What’s important is their history of travel and exposure, which BaCTrac would help establish,” he said in a statement.

Previously, an individual was required to submit a chest X-ray result to secure a medical certificate as part of the requirements for the issuance of a travel authority.

Miraflor added a chest X-ray may only be required in cases that an attending CHO physician may see fit.

“A health declaration and an evaluation of an attending CHO medical officer in Bacolod would suffice for the issuance of the medical certificate. All other requirements for travel would be dependent on the receiving local government unit,” he said.

Meanwhile, once registered in the city’s contract tracing system, an individual will be issued a BaCTrac card which includes the holder’s name, address, identification number, and a uniquely-assigned quick response (QR) code.

When a person enters a government building, shopping mall, or any other area, the QR code from his or her card will be scanned.

The cards serve as a digital logbook to record the date and time of the entry or visit. (PNA)