Mayor Sara cites obedience, honesty as key to contain Covid-19

Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte has emphasized the need to obey guidelines and full disclosure of travel and medical history in the fight against the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) in Davao.

Mayor Sara said this following reports of two confirmed Covid-19 cases in Davao City on Saturday.

“Ang success sa quarantine would depend sa compliance sa mga tao, nga nakasabot sila nga kinahanglan nato maputol ang pag spread sa disease. (The success of the quarantine would depend on the compliance of the people. That, they understand we need to prevent the spread of the disease,)” she said during her radio hour over the Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Saturday.

The Davao City government has been telling people to stay at home, practice social distancing, and to wash hands frequently with soap and water since the outbreak of COVID-19. However, some people continue not to heed calls of the government.

On March 19, local officials in Davao Region decided to suspend land, sea, and air travel to Davao within 14 days as a preventive measure against the spread of COVID-19.

If people still disobey the guidelines, Mayor Sara warned she would decide to extend the lockdown.

“Ang pag spread sa virus, depende sa batasan sa tao. If they follow, mapadali ang pag stop sa spread sa disease. Pero kung dili na mabuhat, madugay gyud ta. (The spread of the virus depends on the attitude of the people. If they follow, it would be easier to stop the spread of the disease. But if they don’t, it would really take us a long time),” she said.

Mayor Sara further urged Dabawenyos especially those with symptoms of COVID-19, to be honest about their condition and travel history when asked by doctors as it is essential for the safety of not only the general public but also the health workers.

She said the doctors are concerned that some people under investigation (PUIs) are not telling the truth, thus exposing health workers to Covid-19.

News reports revealed that a doctor in Luzon tested positive and died after being exposed to another patient with COVID-19 who lied about travel history. CIO