The Davao City COVID-19 Task Force is bracing for the effect of Christmas-related gatherings on the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the city.
Considering the consistent drop in the number of COVID-19 cases and positivity rate in the past week, Davao City COVID-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser still underscored that Dabawenyos should not be complacent since the city still records COVID-19 deaths every week.
She said, “We are preparing, bracing for the yuletide season. Daghang gatherings, parties, ug activities ang mga tao (There are a lot of gatherings, parties, and activities that people go to).”
The city health official hopes that Dabawenyos should understand that the only way to combat COVID-19 is through vaccination and booster shots.
“Persistent nga gamay lang ang atoang daily cases. Today medyo taas lang gamay, naa ta’y eight percent positivity rate. The last two days, below ta sa acceptable positivity rate pero every week duna gihapon mamatay (Our daily cases are persistently low. Today is a bit high, we have an eight percent positivity rate. The last two days we were below the acceptable positivity rate but every week, we have COVID-19 deaths),” Schlosser said during the COVID-19 Alert program aired on Wednesday, December 7, via 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
She said it’s worrying to have COVID-19 deaths amid the city’s low COVID-19 cases.
From November 27 to December 3, Davao City managed to keep a low positivity rate but recorded six deaths.
Two of the six individuals who succumbed to COVID-19 were unvaccinated while the four vaccinated deaths didn’t receive any booster shots.
One COVID-19 death each was logged in the 30 to 39, 40 to 49, 50 to 59 years old, and 60 years old and above age groups.
“Unfortunately, wala gyud ka receive og booster dose. Kani unta by this time they should have completed their primary doses and booster doses (Unfortunately, they didn’t receive any booster dose. By this time, they should have completed their primary and booster doses),” Schlosser said, adding that free vaccinations are available daily from Mondays to Fridays in district and barangay health centers and at People’s Park during weekends.
Data, according to her, show that not only senior citizens with comorbidities are vulnerable to death due to COVID-19 as other Dabawenyos from younger age brackets have also died because of the disease. In past reports, there were also deaths among the pediatric population.
Schlosser also said they are now more focused on preventing COVID-19 deaths, although they continue to monitor the number of active COVID-19 cases.
“Regalo ninyo sa inyong sarili ug loved ones ang pagpabakuna ug pagpabooster as it protects us from the severity of the disease (Getting vaccinated and boosted is a gift for yourself and your loved ones. Although it doesn’t promise that we won’t get infected, it will give us a good battle against COVID-19 and protect us from death),” she added.CIO
