Davao City has recorded the lowest COVID-19 positivity rate of 0.2 percent as of November 28, 2021, which according to a COVID-19 Task Force official is the lowest since the pandemic hit the city in March 2020.
Davao COVID-19 Task Force Spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser bared this during the COVID-19 Alert program of the 87.5 Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) program aired on Tuesday, December 1, 2021.
“Atoang positivity rate nagpabilin og 0.2 percent, that’s by far the lowest positivity rate nato sa COVID-19. Padayon gyud og pagbaba sa atong cases and hopefully within this holiday season dili gyud ta maka massive spread noh (Our positivity rate has remained at 0.2 percent, that’s by far our lowest positivity rate for COVID-19. Our cases have continued to drop, hopefully within this season, we won’t have a massive spread),” Dr. Schlosser said.
Davao City logged 54 COVID-19 cases – 15 on November 30, four on November 29, one on November 28, seven on November 27, nine on November 26, eight on November 25, and 10 on November 24.
As of November 30, the city recorded 156 active cases of the total 53,778 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic hit in March 2020. Of this number, 51,840 have recovered while 1,782 succumbed to the coronavirus disease.
The city health official said, “I hope na magpabilin gihapon na magtuman og minimum public health standards ang mga tao labi na gyud sa holiday season para ma maintain nato ang pagbaba sa cases. Hopefully, even after the holidays, wala tay surge (I hope people will keep adhering to the minimum public health standards, particularly during the holiday season so we can maintain the low number of cases).”
She also said that although some people have expressed concerns about the new variant Omicron, it should not be the reason for a surge.
Dr. Schlosser said the city will keep the current strategies to battle whatever variant that enters the country.
“Isa gihapon sa atoang strategy ang magpabilin og follow sa minimum public health standards, of course bakuna gyud para proteksyon nato against COVID-19 (One of our strategies is to keep following the minimum public health standards, of course, vaccination as it is our protection against COVID-19),” she added.
She reiterated the need for the public to follow mandated COVID-19 protocols and guidelines considering that some restrictions have eased due to the city’s Alert Level 2 status, which has been extended up to December 15, 2021. She said, “Extended man sya, ginahangyo gihapon ang tanan na magfollow gihapon og standards. Although as Alert Level 2 dili na kaayo taas mga protocols na kinahanglan natong i-follow (It may have been extended but we are appealing to everybody to please follow the standards. Although under Alert Level 2, there are not many protocols to follow).”
Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte earlier said a new surge may be fueled by mass gatherings, the waning effect of vaccines, and the new Omicron variant. The Omicron, according to her, is what’s fueling the COVID-19 surge all across Europe.
The City Government of Davao, Mayor Duterte said, will strictly implement the MPHS and prevent any mass gathering that is not allowed by the IATF and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) guidelines under Alert Level 2.
“Magremind lang ko sa tanang kaigsoonan natong Dabawenyo, dili lagi mo magsige og tapok kay ang tapok mao lagi na ang hinungdan magtinakdanay. Wala ko kahibalo ngano wala mo kasabot na dapat magbulag-bulag ta karon sa panahon sa pandemya. Pero magpahinumdum gihapon mi sa inyoha na bisan pa man og makita ninyo nga gamay nalang gyud kaayo ang atong COVID-19 cases, kinahanglan gihapon na magsuot og mask. Magpalayo ta sa ubang tao ug pirmi paniguraduhon nga limpyo atong kamot, maghugas ta gamit ang sabon ug tubig o di ba kaha alcohol (I’m reminding all Dabawenyos to avoid gatherings as it is the cause of transmission. I don’t know why you can’t understand that we have to maintain distance during this time of the pandemic. But we will still remind you that even if we only have a few COVID-19 cases, it is important to wear masks. Stay away from other people and make sure to keep your hands clean, washing with soap and water or alcohol),” the mayor said on Monday, November 29, during her Special Hours program via 87.5 DCDR.CIO
