DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio confirmed that two vendors and a member of the security personnel tested positive for Sars-CoV-2, which causes the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), days before the Roxas Night Market resumed its operation.
Duterte-Carpio said in a radio interview on Monday, September 14, that the city conducted a baseline testing to all who will be involved in the night market's operation -- this includes vendors, stall owners, suppliers, masseurs, and even the security personnel who will be monitoring the area -- three days before its reopening on Saturday, September 12.
The mayor said the three individuals were already referred to the city's temporary treatment and monitoring facility.
Duterte-Carpio clarified that those who were allowed to operate and secure the area during the reopening are those whose reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results came out negative.
However, the mayor said this does not guarantee that all those operating at the night market are free from Covid-19.
"But of course, ang exposure [is] kada adlaw baya. Bisan pa man nga nag-baseline swabbing ta, nag-swab lang ta para lang dili didto magsugod ang exposure tungod sa reopening [of the night market] (But of course, every day, there is the possibility that you can catch the virus. Even if we already conducted the baseline swabbing, there is no guarantee you will not get the virus. We did the tests among those involved at the night market to make sure the night market will not be a source of Covid-19 transmission)," the mayor said in an interview via 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
She added that vendors could possibly get infected since they roam around to order goods and other materials for their stalls.
"Syempre ang mga tao muuli, mangumpra, muadto og grocery, so naa gihapon na'y possible exposure every day. Maong kinahanglan ang strict implementation sa health protocols (People return to their residence, and they also go elsewhere-to buy supplies or groceries. Because of that, there is a possibility of being exposed to the virus every day. That is why we need to be strict in complying with the health protocols)," Duterte-Carpio said.
Based on her communication with the security officials who manned the market, they did not encounter any problem with regard to the enforcement of security and health measures.
"Medyo well planned na gyud to ilang combined security and health planning for the reopening of the Roxas Night Market (The combined security and health plan for the reopening of the Roxas Night Market were well planned)," she said.
The mayor said there was a surge of people on the second day of the reopening.
Meanwhile, the mayor also reminded the vendors and other stall owners that they may be removed and blacklisted from operating in the night market if they would violate health protocol.
"Importante nga makita sa mga tao nga strict atong implementation sa health protocols because that is the only way nga musalig sila inig anha nila sa Roxas Night Market (The public must understand that we are indeed strict with the implementation of health protocols because that is the only way they would have confidence in the reopening of the night market)," Duterte-Carpio said, adding that the vendors and stall owners must also set an example in complying with the health protocols.
The mayor said in a previous report that she hopes the reopening of the market will not be the cause of the surge of Covid-19 cases in the city. RGL