THE breach in isolation protocols among returning residents, which led to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) infection among household members, may have contributed to the rise of positive cases, a health official said.
Department of Health in Davao Region (DOH-Davao) regional epidemiology surveillance unit (Resu) head Dr. Cleofe Tabada said some of the new cases included those who came in contact with an arriving relative who later tested positive for the virus.
“Some of the returning passengers are able to return straight home. We have instances where a (Covid-19) positive (returning resident) goes home, they will be able to meet their family and friends and (they) later tested positive after being in contact with these arrivals,” she said.
She said they have now required the local government units (LGUs) to isolate locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and the returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) as soon as they arrive in their provinces.
“Lahat ng darating dapat ina-isolate talaga lahat kahit saan sila galing. Yun ang usapan na susunduin, will be taken care of by the LGUs, and they go straight to the facility if the LGU has adequate room and facility to accommodate them,” she said.
She added that if the LGUs cannot provide an isolation facility nor can accommodate arriving passengers in the existing ones, isolation in their homes in a separate room away from the family members may be allowed.
However, she clarified they cannot fully ascertain how many of these cases can be linked to these situations since the household members were also able to roam around and might have acquired the virus from their local community.
She said these constitute community transmission.
“When we say community transmission, it is a transmission that is detected within the community lang. Pwede sad (Possibly) it started from an arriving resident or another Covid-19 positive individual,” she said.
“Usually when they become more than two cases, we label that there is a possibility of community transmission,” she added.
Recently, DOH-Davao noted Agdao District, Barangay 23-C, Buhangin District and Mintal to have a high number of cases that are considered as community transmissions.