The Davao City COVID-19 Task Force will wait for two weeks to see any effect of Undas-related social gatherings.
Davao City COVID-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser, during the COVID-19 Alert program of 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) held on November 2, said: “Another event just passed, Undas. We’ll wait for two weeks to know kung duna’y pag-spike sa cases (if there is a spike in COVID-19 cases).”
With the recently-issued Executive Order (EO) No. 7 of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., making the wearing of face masks voluntary indoors and outdoors, she said there is a high possibility of a spike.
“Pwede mag spike sya, managhan ang deaths. We’re focusing kasi, we’re very vigilant sa number of deaths. At this time, wala na dapat mamatay (The COVID-19 cases could spike, and deaths could increase. We’re focused and vigilant on the number of deaths. At this time, there should be no deaths anymore),” she said, citing that anti-COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are readily available in district health centers from Mondays to Fridays and at People’s Park on Saturdays and Sundays.
The vaccines, according to her, may not prevent COVID-19 infection but they help prevent the severity of the disease that may lead to death.
She underscored that COVID-19 cases dropped recently, thanks to Dabawenyos’ cooperation in the COVID-19 management and vaccination rollout. But she maintained that they should not be complacent.
“Ang atong cases, they are not as kadaghan as before. Today, we only have 31. Mas nibaba po sya. Ang tao man gud muingon na nibaba na, feeling nila wala na. Nibaba pud ang number of deaths from October 23 to 29. Kung dati 13 to 14, karon 10. Naa pa gihapon ang COVID-19 (Our cases are lower now than before. Today, we only have 31. It has dropped. But people think that since it’s lower, they feel like it’s gone. The number of deaths also decreased from October 23 to 29. From 13 to 14 before, we have 10. COVID-19 is still very much around),” Schlosser added.
She said from the usual 500 or more active COVID-19 cases weekly, the city logged only 381 cases from October 23 to 29.
However, the average positivity rate ranged from eight to 10 percent, which is still beyond the acceptable five percent positivity rate.
That’s why she urged Dabawenyos to continue being disciplined and responsible for their health to keep the alert level 1 status that the city is enjoying.
She said Davao City is fortunate to retain its alert level 1 status while other neighboring provinces in the region were placed under alert level 2. CIO
