AN OFFICIAL of the Department of Health (DOH)-Davao Region attributed the complacency of some in observing the minimum health protocols as a major factor to the increase in Covid-19 cases in the region.
In a virtual presser on Monday, May 24, DOH-Davao Director Dr. Annabelle Yumang cited gatherings and hospital exposure as the primary source of Covid-19 transmissions.
Yumang said based on their reports, physical distancing is not observed especially during meal time in offices and establishments, when the number of participants exceeds the set maximum limit, and when face masks and face shields are not being properly worn.
She also noted that there are also wide transmissions in hospitals due to exposure to coronavirus-positive patients.
She added that improper wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE), non-observance of proper hand washing and disinfection at all times, and increased complacency of healthcare workers due to the Covid-19 vaccination status as another factor to the widespread transmission of cases in hospitals.
Yumang also saw complacency in the observance of health protocols in government establishments such as police stations, airports, public market, and other government offices.
The health official said the improvement of the region's Covid-19 cases was not sustained.
This, after the region reached the 2,000-mark of Covid-19 active cases, which was last recorded in February this year.
"Katong first week sa Mayo, nalipay na gyud mi nga nag-700 plus lang for our active cases. Apan kada adlaw, human ato nga semanahuna, nakita nato nga duna na gyud tag-three digits na ang atong mga cases (We were happy because on the first week of May this year, we were able to lower down the cases to 700 plus active cases. But after that period, the region had already noted three digit daily new cases)," Yumang said.
Covid-19 Regional Task Force (RTF)-Davao chairperson Manolito Orense, also during the presser, noted complacency in the observance of health protocols since the Covid-19 vaccine rollout started in March this year.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Davao Director Alex Roldan, who is also the RIATF chair, also said there is a huge possibility that the entire region will be reverted to a stricter quarantine status if the surge of cases will not be managed.
Based on the monthly case count, DOH-Davao reported that the number of cases recorded from January to May 23 this year already reached 13,478. This is higher compared to the 12,589 cases recorded from March to December 2020.
Meanwhile, for the morbidity week of May 16 to 22, Tagum City in Davao del Norte still topped the areas by newly recorded cases with 87. This was followed by Buhangin and Talomo North, both in Davao City, with 82 and 67 cases, respectively.
As of now, Yumang said they have not yet noted the emergence of the new variant as one of the factors in the surge of cases in the region.
Davao City surge
Based on the May 23 data of DOH-Davao, Davao City remains to be the Covid-19 epicenter in the region with 1,015 active cases. This is the first time the city reached the 1,000-mark since February this year.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the City Health Office reported during the department heads meeting on Monday that the city is on a surge.
“Our active cases, it is increasing. Three digits ta pirmi sa atoang positive cases. Clearly, makita nato increasing atong cases diri sa Davao (We have been logging three-digit positive cases. We can clearly see the cases in Davao City are increasing),” Duterte-Carpio said on Monday afternoon in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
Duterte-Carpio said based on their contact tracing history, most cases were also recorded in offices and establishments.
The mayor also attributed social gatherings, including birthday parties, and house-to-house visits as other culprits in the Covid-19 transmission.
The surge of cases in the city had prompted her to inform private hospitals to start catering Covid-19 patients since the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) is now being overwhelmed.
“We are not comfortable with what is happening right now because naa nay pasyente atong mga (there are now admitted patients in) private hospitals. And we hope nga ma-flatten nato ni nga curve (to flatten the curve),” she said.
She reiterated the continuous observance of the health protocols to curb the spread of virus. She said the virus is transmitted from one person to another through droplets or saliva, which could then be inhaled or when it is touched by the hand and the same hand touches the face or nose.
Meanwhile, the mayor said the recorded 728 deaths since the start of the pandemic in the city serves as a reminder that Covid-19 is "not a joke."
“Kining (These) 728 total deaths, this is not a joke no. There are 728 families who are grieving because they lost a loved one because of Covid-19 complications. Tinuod ni na gapanghitabo. Dili man ninyo sila kaila, wala man moy silingan na naigo or namatay because of Covid-19, but dili tungod wala moy kaila, dili ninyo makita, kay dili sya nagapanghitabo sa atoang siyudad sa Davao tungod sa kadako sa Davao, tungod sa kadaghan sa tao (This is really happening. You may not have known them or you don’t have a neighbor who was affected or who died of Covid-19. But because you don’t know anyone who has been infected with the virus, does not mean that it is not happening),” Duterte-Carpio said.
As of now, she said there is still no discussion on the city's plan to elevate the city to a higher quarantine status.
The mayor said the city cannot afford to be elevated to a higher quarantine status like modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), like what happened to Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces when it experienced a massive surge of cases.
"Maapektuhan ang pang-adlaw-adlaw nga kinabuhi sa mga tao, and maapektuhan sab ang negosyo, and ang trabaho," she said.
She also reminded the public to only go out for essential purposes and avoid gatherings.
The mayor clarified that it is the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases that dictates the city's quarantine classification, but she said the city can appeal for reconsideration.