The local government of Alangalang in Leyte is implementing digital transactions in the issuance of health certificates to reduce face-to-face interactions.

“The municipal health office of Alangalang would also like to remind everyone that alongside coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), we still have plenty of programs to attend to, such as daily consultations, village-based immunizations, pregnancy, and birth tracking, and so much more,” the local government said in its announcement posted on Monday.

The statement said the local health office also gives too much effort on tracing close contacts of Covid-19 patients in town.

“As a result, we are asking for a little bit of patience as to why we are steering towards an online solution to this which is to limit the number of people daily in the rural health unit and to prevent gatherings,” it added.

Those who will apply for a health certificate are required to fill up a form through this link: https://forms.gle/R4LkbR7hz6p6VQg9A and submit it online.

After submission, the applicant will have to get a copy of the health certificate at the rural health unit on the scheduled time as notified during online application with a valid identification card, updated village health certificate, and transaction pass.

The local government can only release up to 200 health certificates daily in four batches.

The MHO added that walk-in applicants like pregnant women requesting for ultrasound and emergency cases will not be required to go through the same process, but will still need to present the required documents.

A health certificate is required for everyone who will do transactions in this regional capital. The town is located 24 kilometers southwest of here.

The document is proof that the bearer is not a Covid-19 patient nor a suspected carrier of the deadly virus.

The town has already recorded 53 cases of Covid-19 with one death. It has no available data on the number of recoveries. (PNA)