THE Department of Health (DOH)-Davao urged the public to strictly implement precautionary measures against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) as many of the cases are asymptomatic.
In a virtual presser on Tuesday, June 9, DOH-Davao Assistant Regional Director Lenny Joy Rivera said out of the 119 Covid-19 active cases as of June 8, 80 of them or 67.2 percent are asymptomatic.
However, the Health official noted that since the testing strategies were intensified such as targeted random sampling, they observed that many of those who tested positive manifest no symptoms.
She said what needs to be figured out is the rate of infection from the asymptomatic Covid-19 persons.
"In the previous months, yung mga data natin is more on symptomatic cases na nagpo-positive (Our data was cases of those who manifested symptoms of the virus). What we know is that if you are symptomatic, you can actually affect three to five persons," she said.
"Nakikita ngayon sa ating data na kahit asymptomatic siya, pwede pa ring makahawa pero wala pang specific study. (Even if you are asymptomatic, you can still infect although there is no specific study yet) Although, according to WHO (World Health Organization), the infection rate is lesser if you are asymptomatic," she said.
She said an asymptomatic Covid-19 individual may affect other people with weak immune systems since they appear healthy.
With this, she said the public must continue to strictly follow physical distancing and wearing of face masks.
Rivera said the risk of getting the virus will be reduced to 80 percent when a person wears face masks and another 80 percent if they keep a one-meter distance from each other.
"The precautionary measures should be taken by heart," she said.