DAVAO del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib said the current Covid-19 case surge in the province overwhelmed their critical care and treatment facilities.
"Tungod sa padayon nga pagtaas sa kaso sa Covid-19, daghan sa atong mga kaigsuunan ang nag-antos sa kumplikasyon sa Covid[-19], ug gani, daghan kanila ang anaa sa ilang mga panimalay sa karon, nagpaabot nga dawaton sa atong mga hospital kay puno na gyud ang mga balay tambalanan, public man o private," Juhabib said in a video message posted on Sunday, June 13.
(Due to the continuous increase in Covid-19 cases, many of our constituents are currently suffering from the virus’ complications. Many of them are in their residences, waiting to be transported to the hospital since all beds, both in public and private, are fully occupied.)
The governor also said the province is now short in medical equipment and isolation facilities.
Those with exposure to confirmed coronavirus-positive individuals are advised to undergo home quarantine while waiting for vacancies of hospital beds and facilities.
The entire province of Davao del Norte will be under general community quarantine (GCQ) effective Thursday, June 10 until June 30, 2021.
Through Davao del Norte’s Facebook page One DavNor Network, the provincial government released Executive Order No. 26 Thursday, June 10, reverting the province to GCQ from modified GCQ (MGCQ).
Juhabib said elevating the entire province to a stricter quarantine status aims to mitigate the worsening Covid-19 scenario by strengthening preventive measures appropriate to the present transmission in the area.
Under GCQ, non-essential and leisure travel to the province will be prohibited. Residents’ movement will also be limited to accessing essential goods only such as procuring food and medicine, going to work, and emergency purposes.
Any form of gathering is prohibited under the EO unless with permission from the City/Municipal Inter-Agency Task Force through the barangay captain. Once permitted, the venue should only accommodate 30 percent of its original capacity while following minimum health protocols. This includes religious gatherings.
Other religious services such as weddings, baptisms, blessings, etc. will not be allowed under GCQ. Gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals will be limited to only 30 percent of the venue’s capacity. Wakes will be given a maximum of five days and guests are limited to immediate family members only.
Gathering in one house of people from different households or leisure and non-essential purposes is also prohibited.
Jubahib also encouraged his constituents to get a Covid-19 vaccine once it is their turn.
According to the Department of Health-Davao Region data as of June 12, Davao del Norte ranked second in the entire region with the most total and active cases.
The province had a total of 6,744 confirmed cases, wherein 1,419 were active cases, 4,635 recovered, and 190 succumbed to the virus.
Meanwhile, as of June 11, Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC), the primary Covid-19 referral hospital in the province located in Tagum City, announced 61 out of the 75 ICU beds for Covid-19 patients are occupied, while 75 out of the 187 isolation beds are already occupied.
For other facilities in the province, three out of the 44 ward beds are already occupied, while one of the 11 prepared ICU beds has been occupied, and 90 out of the 128 isolation beds are now utilized.