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Quality management system

Local government capability and development division

ZONING AND CONTAINMENT STRATEGY

FOR DILG OFFICERS

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CrZ

CZ

BZ

OBZ

PREVENT - DETECT - ISOLATE - TREAT - REINTEGRATE (PDITR Strategy)

LEGENDS:
Critical Zone (CrZ)
Containment Zone (CZ)
Buffer Zone (BZ)
Outside Buffer Zone (OBZ)

Zoning Containment Strategy

As LGUs apply the Zoning Containment Strategy (ZCS), it is important to identify areas needing prompt COVID-19 interventions and response.

Areas in the LGUs shall be categorized into four (4) zoning classifications, where its epidemiological parameters shall be contextualized based on respective geographical units as stated in the operational guidelines.

We anticipate that no single containment measure by itself will be sufficient to stop the spread of this virus with 100% success. But then if we combine the ZCS and PDITR strategies, we will be able to intervene early and stop the further spread of the pandemic in the locality.

In the schematic diagram shown, you will appreciate that geographical areas in the Critical Zone will have an extremely restrictive perimeter control. This is to instill strict border control in areas with increasingly high

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Subsequently, how do we apply these zones in varying areas?

In the guidelines, we identified and call these areas as “geographical units”. Each geographical unit has specific epidemiological parameters for it to be categorized as Critical Zone. The succeeding slides shows each geographical unit and their respective parameters.�

In implementing these zones, we shall keep in mind and utilize several principles:

Principle of Mass Concentration in which we concentrate our efforts at the most advantageous areas/places and time to achieve decisive results;
Principle of Economy of Force in which all available resources of the LGUs are utilized in the most effective way, concentrating resources in areas/places where they are greatly needed
Tiered-Response Framework of NDRRMC, which interventions are applied from the smallest unit in the barangay up to the national level
Concept of Supporting-Supported in which those in the Critical Zone or in lockdown are supported by those under the containment, buffer and outside buffer zone areas; or the smallest geographical units are supported by bigger organizations of the government - the LGU by the national government.

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General Concept of Zoning Containment Strategy

To apply the zoning containment strategy, it is imperative to know the definition of the four (4) zoning classifications.

How do we categorize an area as a Zone? An area must meet the said parameter of each zone.

The parameters of each zone are:

The Critical Zone (CrZ) refers to the areas where the initial number of cases or several clustering of cases have been identified within the past 7 days.

While the Containment Zone (CZ) are those areas without new cases but are adjacent to a geographic unit categorized as Critical Zone (CrZ).

The Buffer Zone (BZ) on the other hand, refers to the areas without new cases but are adjacent to areas categorized as Containment Zone (CZ).

And lastly, all remaining areas without new cases not categorized as Containment Zone (CZ) or Buffer Zone (BZ) are classified as Areas Outside Buffer Zones (OBZ).

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Specific Zoning Interventions and Activities

Organization

The Zoning Containment Strategy shall be implemented by the LTF against COVID-19 composed of the following teams (DILG MC No. 2020-077):

Other teams may be organized as deemed necessary.

LTF Head

LCE

Contact Tracing Team

(CTT)

Diagnostic Testing Team

(DTT)

Patient Management and Monitoring Team

(PMMT)

Logistics and Resource Support Team

(LRST)

Isolation Facility Management Unit (IFMU)

COVID Referral and Liaison Unit (CRLU)

Reintegration and Psychosocial Counseling Unit (RPCU)

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Specific Zoning Interventions and Activities

Categorization and Declaration of Each Geographical Unit into Zones and Type of Community Quarantine

Upon assessment, the LTF shall categorize each geographical unit into zones upon satisfaction of the established parameters;
If an overlapping of zone classifications occurs, the zoning classification with the stricter measures shall take precedence;
The LTF, with the concurrence of the Regional IATF, shall then be authorized to declare geographical units within his/her are of justidictons into zone.

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Specific Zoning Interventions and Activities

Narrowing Down Community Quarantine Interventions to the Smallest Possible Geographical Unit

Community quarantine interventions shall be implemented in the smallest possible geographical unit satisfying established parameters;

If the parameters of a larger geographical unit have already been satisfied, the LTF shall select the larger geographical unit.

House

Barangay

Block

Subdivision

Market

Municipality

Purok

Street

City Hall

Business

Residential

The LTF, together with the RIATF, must ensure that community quarantine measures are implemented to the smallest possible geographical unit. Why do we need to do this? Because while we mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our communities, we would also like also to ensure that economic and vital social activities are not restricted. A balance of both health and economy must be our ultimate goal.

Example, a family living in a single house reported that three (3) of their family members are positive for COVID-19, and four (4) are close contacts. They were the only confirmed positive cases in the barangay. What geographical unit should be put on lockdown or categorized as critical zone?

The house only. We must not put larger geographical units like the whole street, or block, or purok or barangay on lockdown or critical zone.

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Specific Zoning Interventions and Activities

Categorization and Declaration of Each Geographical Unit into Zones and Type of Community Quarantine

1 CC

500 m

CrZ

CZ

BZ

OBZ

500 m

Photo credit: Barangay Julio Ouano, Alegria, Surigao del Norte website

We are done in identifying the Critical Zone.

Let us now identify the other zones. For those smaller than a purok, let us identify the perimeters/boundaries of the critical zone, then measure 500 m from the perimeter of the critical zone. All establishments and houses within the 500 meter radius will be classified as containment zone. Afterwards, measure 500 meters, this time around, from the boundaries of the containment zone. Any establishments and houses within the 500 meter radius, will be classified as buffer zone. The rest of the areas of the barangay, not classified will be categorized as outside buffer zones.

Any type of establishment within a particular zone, even though they were only partially included based on the measurement shall be categorized under the higher zone category.

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Specific Zoning Interventions and Activities

Time Interval in Decision-making

Once it is made known to the LGU that the parameters of a certain geographical unit has been satisfied or met, decision to impose a community quarantine with the concurrence of the Regional IATF shall be made within 24 hours.

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Specific Zoning Interventions and Activities

Data Gathering

Population
Number of Barangays
Population Density per Barangay
BHERTs Teams organized
Swabbing Teams organized
Contact Tracing Teams organized
Social Amelioration Teams organized

The following information are to be gathered beforehand:

Quarantine Facilities organized
Treatment Facilities organized
Spot Map of Cases
Syndromic Surveillance
Testing Kits available
Other information and/or data analysis deemed necessary.

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Eight (8) Major Activities

Perimeter control measures
Surveillance Activities
Mandatory Quarantine/Isolation and Treatment Activities
COVID-19 Testing Activities
Disinfection Activities
Physical Distancing Measures
Social Amelioration and Socioeconomic Mitigation Activities
Health Systems Capacity Preparedness

Specific Zoning Intervention and Activities

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REQUIREMENTS

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PROCESS

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TEMPLATES

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TEMPLATES

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TEMPLATES

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CERTIFICATION

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CERTIFICATION