DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio revealed that one vendor from Bankerohan Public Market has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, which causes the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
However, the mayor did not specify if the vendor was among those who were tested during a random swab testing conducted by the city government in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) last week in Bankerohan, Buhangin, and Isla Verde (Barangay 23-C).
She also did not disclose the condition of the vendor, whether he or she is already admitted at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) or is currently placed under one of the city’s Covid-19 isolation facilities.
Duterte-Carpio said in a radio interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio that she had long been warning the public to refrain from frequently visiting areas like wet markets and groceries as these are highly vulnerable areas for transmission.
“Dugay nako sige balik-balik ug sulti sa tanan nga please avoid in going to palengke, supermarkets if you can because naa diri ang tao, therefore naa diri ang potential sa infection, apil na pod dinha ang hospitals, ug mga punerarya (I have kept on reminding everyone to avoid going to the markets or supermarkets as much as possible because of the risk ),” she said in a radio interview.
Meanwhile, the city government is currently intensifying its case finding efforts in the communities to trace individuals who may have the coronavirus.
On Monday, April 27, DOH personnel went to Barangay Daliao in Toril District to conduct contact tracing. A 14-day street or house lockdown was implemented in Purok Lipadas in Barangay Daliao last week. One individual is still being monitored for possible Covid-infection.
Duterte-Carpio said there is one individual in Daliao that they are still monitoring and could possibly be a Covid-19 positive patient.
She added this individual is living beside a purok where a Covid-19 positive patient resides.
Aside from Purok Lipadas, the city also placed Purok 3, 4, and 7 of Barangay 23-C, Purok 8 of Barangay 21-C, and Purok Sto. Niño in Barangay Leon Garcia under a 14 day-street or house lockdown.
Duterte-Carpio announced on Saturday, April 25, that four out of 62 individuals tested randomly in Barangay Leon Garcia and Barangay 23-C were Covid-19 positive.
Out of 15, three tested positive for the virus in Leon Garcia, while one out of the of 47 tested in Isla Verde, Barangay 23, were positive, the mayor said.
Meanwhile, the mayor said the city will also be conducting more random testing in other barangays in the city in the coming days.