NEARLY two months since Davao Region reported its first confirmed case of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), Davao Occidental is the only province in the region that maintained zero cases of the infectious disease in their province.
Based on the data from the Provincial Health Office of Davao Occidental, the province is the only province in the entire region that has a negative case of Covid-19.
As of 5:30 p.m. on May 2, the province recorded a total of 2,182 persons under close monitoring (PUCM), of this figure, 1,826 have been cleared while 356 are still under monitoring.
Despite the negative figure, Davao Occidental Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ann Margaux Quezad said in her Facebook post that they are not taking things lightly.
“For every person that comes in, but came from an infected area, there is a risk of infecting those who are already inside. For every person who risks going to the infected area and coming back inside, there is also the risk of bringing the infection,” Quezada said.
She reiterated her reminder to the residents of Davao Occidental to stay indoors to avoid contracting the disease.
“With this, every person that came in, goes out and came in again, bears the responsibility of being the carrier and the reason for spreading the infection,” she added.
Davao Occidental is made up of the towns of Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos, Malita, Santa Maria, and Sarangani.
The province earlier denied allegations that health officials are hiding the positive cases, saying that “until such time that test results confirm it, we remain to be Covid-19 free.”
Based on the Department of Health (DOH)-Davao’s Regional Situation Update on Covid-19 in Davao Region as of 5 p.m. of May 2, 2020, six new cases of Covid-19 in Davao City, bringing the total number of cases in the region to 141.
Davao City topped the most cases with 124, followed by Davao del Norte with 10, Davao Oriental with three, Davao de Oro with two, and Davao del Sur with two.
Starting May 1, Davao Occidental has been placed under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) after it is deemed to be low risk.