AS PART of its heightened community surveillance against coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the Davao City Government offers free swabbing to residents who are experiencing influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms.

In a Facebook post, the City Government said qualified for free swabbing are those experiencing ILI symptoms such as cough, fever (38 degrees Celsius), and must manifest both symptoms for the past 10 days.

Those who manifest the mentioned symptoms must reach out to the city's 24/7 Covid-19 Hotlines posted on the City Government's Facebook page.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio signed Executive Order 18, series of 2021 (EO 18) for the heightened surveillance and response of Covid-19 in the city.

The EO allows the local government unit to expand its testing and contact tracing capabilities to manage the Covid-19 situation in the city.

Under the EO, the city is monitoring and mandating individuals with influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms to be swabbed at the nearest district swab sites.

The mayor admitted in her recent radio interview that only few people with ILI symptoms reached out and had themselves tested.

With this, she encouraged Dabawenyos to avail themselves of the free Covid-19 testing for targeted residents, people experiencing ILI symptoms, and for Covid-19 close contacts.