FOUR individuals working at the Agdao Public Market are currently being monitored for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) after failing the city government’s health screening and testing positive for Sars-CoV-2 in rapid test, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio confirmed on Tuesday, May 26.
Duterte-Carpio, in a radio interview via 87.5 Davao City Disaster Radio, said the four were among the 464 individuals included in the initial screening and rapid testing of the Davao City Health Office (CHO) on Monday, May 25. Covered in health screening are vendors and other workers in the wet market.
The mayor said they were immediately referred to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) for further monitoring.
The local government initiated the testing after six persons who tested positive of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) said they may have been exposed to the virus in the market.
However, the mayor clarified that the screening is not just mere testing. Hence, she said they have specific criteria to follow to determine if one failed the city’s health screening or not.
“Ang atoang health screening, dili lang man siya RDT (rapid diagnostic test). Naga-check pud siya kung duna ba kay ubo, sip-on, for the past days. Duna pud ba kay kauban nga gi-ubo, sip-on (Our health screening is not only limited with the RDT. We also check if the individual has coughs and cold, or had close contact with anyone who is sick),” Duterte-Carpio said.
Once the individual fails in the health screening, she said they are immediately referred to SPMC for the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, which the mayor believed is the most accurate way of determining if the patient has the Sars-CoV-2, the virus causing Covid-19.
The City Government of Davao earlier announced that starting May 23, the Agdao Public Market will temporarily cease its operations. The mayor said the wet market will also undergo disinfection for seven days.
However, the mayor said in a recent interview that she would consult the epidemiologist if the local government could reopen the market or would extend its closure.
The mayor said affected workers will receive food assistance from the City Government, through the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).
Barangay Agdao Proper, where the public market is located, has been re-classified on May 25, as one of the seven “very high risk” barangays in Davao City due to a significant number of cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). Other barangays include 23-C, Bucana, Buhangin Proper, Cabantian, Leon Garcia, and Talomo Proper.
In late April 2020, a vendor from Bankerohan Public Market also tested positive for Sars-CoV-2.
Duterte-Carpio has reiterated her reminder to the public to refrain from frequently visiting areas like wet markets and groceries as these are highly vulnerable areas for transmission.