Davao City – Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte on Monday, May 17, called on Dabawenyos “to brace” for the rising COVID-19 cases.
Mayor Duterte, in her Davao City Disaster Radio program, said, “Let us all brace ourselves for the increase of cases in COVID-19 diri sa atoang syudad sa Davao (here in Davao City).
She made the statement after hearing the report of City Health Office (CHO) Acting Head and Davao City COVID-19 Task Force spokesperson, Dr. Ashley Lopez during the department heads’ meeting held Monday morning.
Duterte said she noted in Lopez’s report the rise of the coronavirus positive cases in the city, saying that is similar to what was experienced in the previous increase in cases.
“Na notice nako during his reporting, he was not saying that there is a surge pero clearly, klaro na gyud kaayo pataas na atoang mga cases. Confirm ba ang tawag na correct term ana because makit-an nato nga increasing ang cases sa atong hospitals og sa atoang mga TTMFs (I noticed in his reporting, although he was not saying that there is a surge, it is very clear that our COVID-19 positive cases are increasing. Is that what you call a confirmation since there is also an increase in cases in our hospitals and TTMFs),” the mayor said.
Citing the city’s uptrend in COVID-19 cases, she reiterated her reminder to Dabawenyos to stay calm. Duterte said, “Kung dili ko ninyo makit-an nga magpanic, there is no reason nga magpanic mo (If you don’t see me panicking, there is no reason for you to also panic).”
As of Sunday, May 16, Davao City recorded 95 new active COVID-19, or a total of 709 active cases with 46 new recoveries and four deaths.
She also said that the general public needs to stay faithful to the city’s strict implementation of the minimum public health standards – wearing face masks, social distancing, hand washing, and staying at home unless going out for essential goods and services.
The mayor said that that city’s health care system, hospitals, and Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities (TTMFs) – along with the frontliners working in these institutions and facilities – will respond to patients admitted to them.
Duterte, however, hopes that the city can hasten its COVID-19 vaccination program.
“Duna tay nakita nga study particularly sa Italy. Maski first dose pa lang, dako ang effect sya sa cases of COVID-19. Sa nakita nila nga mas daghan ang nabakunahan, decreasing ang ilang COVID-19 cases. We hope na makaapas ang atoang pagbakuna. We are also told nga daghan ang moabot nga mga bakuna. Kinahanglan nga paspasan nato sa pagbakuna (We’ve seen a particular study in Italy. Even if people were vaccinated with the first dose, it has a great effect on their COVID-19 cases. They saw that the more people are vaccinated, the more the cases decreased. We hope we can catch up with our vaccination. We were told more vaccines will be arriving. So we need to hasten our vaccination),” she added.
Meanwhile, she said the city will continue with its basic COVID-19 response, which includes testing, tracing, treating, isolating, and quarantining vaccination, and enforcement of all COVID-19 guidelines and regulations. (City Information Office)