DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Davao City has seen 75 new COVID-19 cases this week, which has prompted the city government to prepare for the possible rise of infection after the holiday season.
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said in her program over Davao City Disaster Radio on Monday that the local government is expecting another surge in “probably third week of January” basing on the two-week incubation period of the coronavirus.
The City Government of Davao had eased restrictions in public places and travel last month after it obtained an Alert Level 2 status, prompting concerns from Davaoeños as they saw people flocked into malls and social gatherings over the Christmas holidays.
The Davao City COVID-19 Task Force has reported over Disaster Radio that the daily new cases doubled to 32 on Tuesday from 16 on Monday.
The Department of Health COVID-19 tracker reported 75 new cases this week compared to 27 cases reported in the last week of December. Davao City now has 155 active cases.
Davao’s COVID-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser said the city’s positivity rate 1.9 percent and is still not alarming.
Duterte-Carpio said they are now doing an inventory of the city’s treatment facilities to determine which one needs to be reactivated.
The mayor said there will be no changes in restrictions such as border and travel restrictions into Davao City, despite concerns of the entry of the Omicron variant in the country and Metro Manila reverting to Alert Level status 3.
Duterte-Carpio advised Davao City residents not to panic but instead avail of booster shots in vaccination centers.
“Get your booster now. Ayaw na pamili og brand. (Don’t bother to choose a brand) It has to be today. It’s very urgent nga magpabooster na ang kadtong mga naka two doses na nga vaccine and more than three months na ang inyuhang second dose, pwede namo according to DOH nga mukuha sa inyuhang booster,” Duterte said.
The mayor also issued Executive Oder 69 last December 29 extending the prohibition of non-essential activities and face-to-face in government offices, agencies and corporations until September 12. (davaotoday.com)
