Davao City to conduct 'aggressive community testing' in high-risk barangays

File photo by Macky Lim
File photo by Macky Lim

IN THE coming days, the Davao City Government will be spearheading an "aggressive community testing" in 35 high-risk barangays in the city, as part of its move to improve its contact tracing and case finding brought about by the continuing spike of Covid-19 cases in the city.

Davao City Health Covid-19 focal person Dr. Ashley Lopez said in a radio interview on Thursday morning, November 26, the City Government will be prioritizing the 35 identified barangays in the city's massive testing activity, as part of its bid to lower down case transmission recorded within the barangays.

The identified barangays were reported to have contributed 80 percent of Covid-19 cases in the city the past 14 days, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

These villages are Buhangin Proper, 19-B, Talomo Poblacion, Agdao, Bucana, Toril, Matina Crossing, Maa, Matina Aplaya, Cabantian, Catalunan Grande, Sasa, Panacan, 21-C, Pampanga, Daliao, Calinan Poblacion, 5-A, Bago Aplaya, 27-C, Centro, Tugbok Poblacion, Leon Garcia, 32-D, 9-A, Baliok, 20-B, Bunawan, Tibungco, Lizada, Tigatto, 28-C, 7-A, 23-C and Indangan.

Lopez said the community testing will be done within the barangays.

"Dili na sila kinahanglan mudasok sa testing center, kami na mismo ang muadto sa komunidad. (They will no longer be flocking to the testing centers because we will be the ones going within the communities.) We're going to organize this, in cooperation with the barangays," Lopez said in an interview via 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

He said the massive community testing will be done in a bigger venue such as a gym or an open space to accommodate people included in the "line list."

Persons included in the line list will be gathered and screened to determine whether they have direct exposure to those who tested positive and those who have direct contact with the confirmed positive. The barangays will inform them if they are included in the list.

"In this way, ma-swab nato silang tanan. Then, if mag-negative na sila sa swab (we would be able to swab test all of them. Once they test negative in the swab), they will undergo a 14-day home quarantine. Kung mag-positive sila sa swab, didto na na sila kuhaon ug didto sila ibutang sa atong mga facilities (They will be brought to our facilities once they test positive) after assessment coming from our doctors," Lopez said.

The health official, however, said this is not mass testing as those who have direct contact with suspected and confirmed patients will be included in the target for swabbing.

The test result coming from the aggressive testing will come out in two days, since the confirmatory test will be done at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).

SPMC is capable of conducting 2,000 tests per day.

Lopez hopes the waiting period would be shorter since SPMC is now improving its testing capacity.

The community testing will start on Friday, November 27, to three identified barangays with the highest recorded cases - Buhangin Proper, Bucana, and probably Ponciano Bangoy or 23-C.

The health official said the city is currently expanding its temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMF) as they are expecting to catch more positive individuals in aggressive testing.

He added that the city will be utilizing two hotels that will be able to cater to a total of 100 patients.

Lopez clarified that the city will not be imposing granular lockdown to the 35 barangays, contrary to some circulating reports online.

He reiterated the statement of Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio that the city will no longer be deciding which areas will be placed on lockdown as it will be based on the assessment of the Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (Code) Team.

The Code team arrived in the city on Tuesday, November 24, to assist the city in its Covid-19 response.

The only lockdown the city will be imposing for now is the house lockdown, Lopez said.

The aggressive testing is one of the initiatives the local government will be conducting, under the supervision of the National Task Force Against Covid-19, a week since the city reverted to general community quarantine due to the surge of Covid-19 cases.

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