Editorial: Brace for impact

Editorial: Brace for impact

ON MONDAY, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said we should brace for impact following the increase in Covid-19 cases.

If we go through the active Covid-19 cases in Davao City in the last two weeks, there has been definitely an increase. On May 12, active cases in Davao City are at 532. On May 18, active cases are now at 656.

“Na-notice nako during his (Davao City Health Office acting head Dr. Ashley Lopez) reporting, he was not saying that there is a surge pero clearly, klaro na gyud kaayo pataas na atoang mga cases. Confirmed ba ang tawag na correct term ana because makit-an nato nga increasing ang cases sa atong hospitals ug sa atoang mga TTMFs (I noticed in his reporting, although he was not saying that there is a surge, it is very clear that our Covid-19 positive cases are increasing. Is that what you call a confirmation since there is also an increase in cases in our hospitals and TTMFs),” she said.

Duterte-Carpio said the increase in active and new Covid-19 cases was due to intensified surveillance testing, contact tracing, and individuals seeking medical intervention and not because of the new Covid-19 variants.

It can be recalled that the City Government of Davao has expanded its contact tracing and testing capabilities.

For the testing, the mayor has released several executive orders to allow the city to conduct targeted testing or surveillance testing. Those with influenza-like illness are also urged to get tested for free at the city's testing facilities. The city also has added a drive-through testing facility near Crocodile Park. For contact tracing, it is utilizing the Safe Davao QR app to notify individuals who may have been in the same place with a Covid-19 patient.

The increase in Covid-19 cases in Davao City is something that the public must also keep an eye on. With the economy slowly reopening, we cannot afford to go through a stricter quarantine status.

Hence, there is a need for us to be reminded to strictly follow the minimum health protocols -- wearing face masks, observing social distancing, and regular washing of hands with soap and water. Let us not forget to avoid gathering as a large group.

It is also our duty as citizens to have our QR code scanned by the establishment or scan the establishment's QR code ourselves. This will allow the city to trace possible contacts, have them tested, and if the contact is positive, prevent the virus from spreading further.

These are the simple things we can do to be part of the solution to this Covid-19 pandemic and while we wait for the vaccine. It is our collective efforts that we can slow or even stop the spread of Covid-19 in our community.

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