WITH the spike in the number of novel coronavirus cases in Davao Region attributed to the arrival of the locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs), the Province of Davao de Oro will be asking the national government to suspend the Hatid-Probinsya program for two weeks.
On July 15, Davao de Oro Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy said they recommended the suspension to the National Interagency Task Force to keep their isolation units in barangays and municipalities from being overwhelmed by the number of Covid-19 positive LSIs and ROFs.
“Naay mga barangays nga puno na gyud. Maayo na lang nga ato sang ipa-recover sila para pud dili mabug-atan ang atong health system kay ang tigbantay pud sa barangay, bug-at na pud kaayo kung paspas ang pagdungag sa Hatid-Probinsya program ang makaabot (Some of our barangay isolation facilities are full. We want them to at least recover),” he said.
He said the health team of the province has also streamlined measures to address the issues with the health facilities.
“Muhangyo ta sa National Interagency Task Force (IATF) especially those in-charge sa mga Hatid-Probinsya program nga hatagan tag mga duha ka semana nga moratorium aron nga maka-prepare ta better (We will ask the IATF to give us a moratorium for two weeks so we can prepare better),” he said.
“At the same time, ma-set sad nato ang mga recommended policy sa atong mga doctors and aron dili nato ma-overburden and atong mga health personnel (We will also set in place the policies recommended by our doctors to help our health personnel),” he added.
As of July 16, Davao de Oro recorded 13 new Covid-19 cases, 11 of which are LSIs coming from the National Capital Region (NCR) and Cebu City and are all asymptomatic. The remaining two are its first local transmissions.
Uy also urged the province’s residents currently stranded in other areas of the country to coordinate with the local government units (LGUs) on their return to prevent infecting others in case they are positive for Sars-Cov-2.
“Ang importante nga mahibalo mi sa inyong pagpauli. Dili kay ang komunidad na mismo ang makakita sa inyuha ug mureport nga miabot mo. Pinaagi sa kana nga aksyon, adunay possibility nga en kaso nga positive ta, makatakod mo (It is important that we will be the first to be aware of your return so we will be able to mitigate the potential spread of the virus in case you test positive of Covid-19),” he said.
On July 15, the IATF extended the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) with medium risk in Davao de Oro, along with other provinces and Davao City in Davao Region except for Davao Occidental which is put under low-risk MGCQ.