DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The usual bustle and traffic in Davao City is now gone, as Mayor Sara Duterte placed the city under community quarantine on Sunday, March 15, to stop the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
The community quarantine order was issued after the first Covid-19 case in Davao Region was confirmed in Tagum City by the Department of Health.
The mayor’s order advises the public from leaving their homes except for work, for purchases of food and medicines, for hospital purposes and disposal of garbage.
Mass gatherings including religious services and classes are all suspended. Public transportation is still allowed but passengers are advised to observe social distancing or a one-meter space from each other. Cargo deliveries are still allowed.
Employees who live outside the city may still enter provided they follow screening procedures.
Government offices remain open, while work in the private sector may opt for flexible work plan to minimize contact. Online meetings and bank transactions are also required.
Flights from Clark Airport are ordered banned.
The city government explained it is taking “all necessary containment measures… to prevent local transmission of the virus.”
Fewer vehicles and public jeepneys ply their route along Bonifacio Street. (Ken E. Cagula/davaotoday.com)
Passengers of jeepneys find it a challenge to practice “social distancing” imposed by government. (contributed photo)
Supermarkets are now enforcing social distancing by ensuring costumers to stand a meter apart from each other and imposing a limit of purchase of goods after seeing people rushing last week to stockpile supplies. (davaotoday.com)
Supermarkets are now enforcing social distancing by ensuring costumers to stand a meter apart from each other and imposing a limit of purchase of goods after seeing people rushing last week to stockpile supplies. (davaotoday.com)
The waiting area for passengers in the wharf bound for Samal Island is empty on Tuesday morning. The wharf is usually flocked with Samal residents and tourists going to the beach resorts. (Ken E. Cagula/ davaotoday.com)
At the checkpoint in Lasang, a composite team of health workers, traffic officials, local security and Task Force Davao personnel conduct temperature checks and verification of IDs of people coming in to Davao City from the northern side of Mindanao. Those coming from Tagum City are barred from entering, as the first Covid-19 patient of Davao Region is confined in that City. (Ken E. Cagula/ davaotoday.com)
