ACCORDING to the contact tracing findings of the Department of Health in Davao Region (DOH-Davao) and City Government of Davao, one of the main reasons for the recent spike in Covid-19 cases in the city is due to individuals failing to self-regulate. This is on top of problems with people gathering together and workplace clusters.
In a recent virtual press conference with DOH-Davao, the agency recorded that the growth and attack rates in the city and the region have increased in recent weeks.
Data from the agency showed that as of November 3, 2020, the two-week growth in Davao Region has gone up to 98 percent from only 25.6 percent on October 15.
Davao City, Davao de Oro, and Davao del Norte also recorded a very high growth rate. Davao City's two-week growth rate as of November 3 is at 104.5 percent; Davao de Oro was at 110.5 percent, and Davao del Norte was at 164.3 percent.
It can be noted that in the past several days, Davao City has been among the top five areas in the country that has been seeing a spike in Covid-19 cases.
"The increase we noticed is that since nag-open na tayo (we opened up more), though the city [Davao City] has been supportive of our call for restrictions and implementation of the minimum health standard, but it has been noticed that there was difficulty in individual actions," DOH-Davao Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit Officer Cleofe Tabada said.
Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio also pointed out that some have forgotten that we are still placed under a community quarantine.
"Mao kini nakalimtan sa tao nga aduna kita'y community quarantine. Therefore, kita dapat naa sulod sa atong panimalay, except for [buying of] essential goods and services, or [for] work or business (People forget that we are still under a community quarantine. Therefore, we should be staying at home and should only go out for essential goods and services or for work or business)," she said.
Duterte-Carpio added that it has been observed that people have been going out of their homes for non-essential activities like hanging out with friends or having drinking sessions. These activities wherein most would let their guards down, have led to more people catching the virus.
Hence, the city re-implementing a curfew and a 24-hour liquor ban in a bid to limit the movement of people and discourage them from conducting non-essential activities after work hours.
As the City Government and neighboring provinces, towns, and cities heighten their control measures to slow the spread of the disease, there is also a need for the people to impose self-discipline among themselves in following the minimum health safety protocols recommended by health authorities.
These minimum health safety protocols -- wearing of face mask and/or face shield, observing social distancing, washing of hands with soap and water -- are being regularly reminded to us through various communication mediums. It is impossible that we would not be aware of these.
Likewise, everyone should also cooperate with health authorities during contact tracing by being honest when interviewed. We should also take it upon ourselves to be truthful with the information we put in contact tracing forms.
Other nations succeeded in their control of Covid-19 not only through effective regulations but also due to the discipline of their citizens. Our regulations still need some work but as citizens, we have to act with discipline now.
Our self-discipline will go a long way in the long term. It will help lower the Covid-19 cases in the city and at the same ease the caseload at our health facilities.