Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte has reiterated her call for Dabawenyos to not panic following reports of confirmed positive cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the city.
Mayor Sara said the possible positive Covid-19 case in the city is expected. Given this development, she advised Dabawenyos to heed government calls on observing the preventive measures such as staying home, no non-essential travels, social distancing, and washing of hands with soap and water.
“Kapila na gibalik-balik, every hour sa atong radio. Ang akong message, ‘diba kadtong akong—public address nako na nag-ingon ko nga moabot gyud na sa atoa, and karon finally, naa na gyud siya dinhi sa atong siyudad (We have reiterated our calls, every hour on our radio, in my public address that it will definitely reach us. Today, the disease is already here in our city),” Mayor Sara said.
The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed Saturday that a married couple tested positive with COVID-19. The couple has a travel history to Metro Manila and arrived in Davao City on March 6. The couple is asymptomatic and is now on strict home quarantine.
“Do not panic because and kinahanglan nato buhaton karon is to ensure nga gisunod nato katong gisulti sa Doctor (Do not panic because what we need to do is to ensure that the Doctor’s advice is followed),” she mentioned.
Mayor Sara also emphasized the need to follow doctors’ advice.
The mayor also reiterated to stay at home, social distancing, regular washing of hands, staying away from people who have travel history in areas with positive COVID-19 cases, and to call the COVID-19 Operation Center if flu-like symptoms and diarrhea are experienced.
“The only time nga mag-panic mo is kung makita ninyo nga nag panic nako. Buot pasabot ana end of the world na. So kung wala ko nag-panic, ayaw mo’g panic(The only time you panic is when you see me panic. That only means it’s the end of the world. So if I don’t panic, do not panic),” she said in jest.
Mayor Sara said that it is more important to pray and follow the guidelines from the doctors in these times. CIO