THE Covid-19 positivity rate in Davao City continues to improve as it declined further to four percent, thus the transmission is now considered “manageable.”
Covid-19 Task Force Spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser said this in a radio interview on Wednesday, November 10, attributing this to the downtrend in Covid-19 cases and the positive reception of the parents to the pediatric vaccination being rolled out.
"Maka-happy kaayo sya noh (It really makes us happy). That means naa ta sa (we are in the) acceptable level of positivity rate," Schlosser said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
According to the World Health Organization, the acceptable positivity rate threshold of a certain locality is at five percent and below.
Aside from the vaccination, she also attributed the compliance of Dabawenyos to the minimum health standards.
She also emphasized the city's PDTR+V strategy, which stands for "Prevent-Detect-Isolate -Treat-Reintegrate (PDITR)+ Vaccination," as among the factors in the declining positivity rate.
"Epektibo gyud ang atoang pagpabakuna, pag follow nato sa public minimum health standards, paggamit sa face masks, avoid ta og mga crowded places, social distancing, hand washing or hand hygiene," she said.
(Vaccination has been very effective as well as our adherence to the public minimum health standards, use of face masks, avoiding crowded places, social distancing, hand washing or hand hygiene.)
The city continues to reach out to sectors and communities wherein there is still a low turnout of vaccinees.
Schlosser said they continue to encourage those who have not yet gotten their jabs to get vaccinated as soon as possible and have a reason to celebrate the holiday season.
The city health official also said Dabawenyos can be confident and will have peace of mind during the holidays once the target herd immunity is achieved.
"Ma-achieve nato ang point na makaingon ta na protected na gyud ang atong mga sarili, pati atong mga loved ones ug pamilya," she said.
(Once we reach that point, we can tell ourselves that we have protected ourselves, our loved ones, and our families.)
Davao City is targeting to achieve the 1.2-million herd immunity before the end of 2021.
As of October 28, the city has already achieved 66-percent herd immunity after administering 882,818 jabs for first dose, while 788,001 Dabawenyos are now vaccinated after receiving their second dose.
Meanwhile, she thanked parents for their all-out support of the pediatric vaccination rollout.
The pediatric vaccination for ages 12 to 17 started on Monday, November 8.
The operational pediatric vaccination sites, all open for walk-ins, are GMall Toril, Mabini Elementary School, Calinan Elementary School, Matina Aplaya Elementary School, and F. Dizon Elementary School.
All public and private hospitals also cater to pediatric vaccination but registration is needed.
Pediatric vaccinees are required to bring a birth certificate or school ID for proof of age, and Safe Davao QR. Minors with comorbidities, however, will have to provide a medical certificate.