Like other local government units, Pasig City is ramping up health protocols amid the threat of the more transmissible Delta variant of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

On top of the measures is the vaccination rollout which has so far covered 167,688 residents, or 20 percent of the city’s total population.

Pasig has 12 vaccination sites that are currently operational, four of them being run by the private sector.

Two other vaccination centers have to suspend operations while waiting for more supplies of diluent and syringe required for administering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

“At the moment, we only have 18,000 available for the first dose,” Mayor Vico Sotto said in his Facebook update on Monday after meeting with the city’s Covid incident management team.

“It’s difficult to determine which are Delta cases. We have to assume there is widespread community transmission. And prepare accordingly,” Sotto said.

Pasig’s Covid-19 bed capacity remains below the critical level and medical supplies, including oxygen tanks, are available.

Sotto also reminded that dine-in services and religious gatherings will not be allowed for the duration of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) on August 6 to 20.

Only authorized persons outside residence and essential workers are allowed to go out.

Village coding schemes will be implemented in public wet markets, which are disinfected regularly.

City government offices engaged in health management, vaccination, peace and order, disaster risk, and reduction management, will be in full operational capacity while the rest of the offices will observe alternative work arrangements at 50 percent capacity and work from home arrangements.

“Not sure yet what exactly we will receive from national. We will purchase more food packs, but with 1,000 dedicated personnel, repacking and distribution takes four to six weeks to complete for over 200,000 families,” he said.

As of August 1, Pasig still has 428 active Covid-19 cases out of the total confirmed 37,145 infections. Deaths are at 968 and recoveries at 35,749. (PNA)