Magalong to overhaul COVID-19 contact tracing system

Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong, appointed as the new anti-COVID tracing czar, announced a significant overhaul of the Philippines' contact tracing system, which he referred to as a "contact tracing ecosystem."

This new system will foster a partnership between health workers and law enforcement investigators to improve the process.

Magalong's appointment was part of the government's move to designate specific "czars" to manage different aspects of the COVID-19 response.

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar was named "isolation czar," and Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega was appointed "treatment czar."

Magalong's background as a former police official and his experience in managing the outbreak in Baguio will be instrumental in restructuring the contact tracing efforts.