THE Department of Health (DOH) in Davao Region has somehow confirmed that the active cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the region has been on a downtrend.
This is good news considering that the region has been placed under a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) in July.
Prior to the declaration of the MGCQ, there were concerns that the Covid-19 cases in the region would spike dramatically with more people being allowed to move around.
Monitoring the data from DOH-Davao would show that there was a steady rise in Covid-19 cases in the region since the MGCQ. Active cases in the region peaked on August 12 with 534.
However, data would also show that there has been a downtrend in active cases the past month. After it peaked on August 12, active cases quickly declined in two days. Since the decline, while there were still increases, active cases have not breached the 500-mark in the last three weeks. This may show that the active cases in the region remain to be manageable.
Data for each province in the region also showed a downtrend in the active cases in recent days.
DOH-Davao attributed the downtrend and manageable Covid-19 active cases in the region to the compliance of the public to minimum health safety standards and the local guidelines being implemented by the local government units in the region.
Dr. Lenny Joy Rivera, DOH-Davao assistant regional director, said the public's behavioral change matched with the local government's policy in ensuring the observance of the minimum health standards maintained to achieve further lowering of Covid-19 cases in the region.
While this is all good news for the people of Davao, as long as no treatment or vaccine is available, there is still no room for complacency.
Based on the experiences of other nations around the globe, there is still the risk that active cases would suddenly surge. This will not be good for everyone. It could mean that lockdowns will be imposed again, businesses will have to temporarily close, and the health system could be put under more stress.
Therefore, if we want to keep the trend of active cases in the region low, we have to ensure that each of us to strictly observes health safety protocols that are being implemented by the Inter-agency Task Force for the management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID) and our respective local government units.
Among the health safety protocols, we should follow are wearing a face mask and/or face shield, observing physical distancing, and regular washing of hands with soap and water.
It is also important for the public to cooperate with the health workers, especially when being asked about their health.
Our compliance with the health safety protocols will be a big help to our government, those at the frontlines, and the health workers.