Davao City – Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio bared to impose more measures to prevent the occurrence of second wave of the COVID-19 cases in the city.
Speaking at the Davao City Disaster Radio, she said that it is not far that a second wave of the COVID-19 infection will not happen in Davao City, if the people will continue to be complacent with the surge of cases in the National Capital Region and in Cebu.
Duterte-Carpio revealed that in order to prevent a second wave of the COVID-19 cases, she imposed several measures from requiring 72-hour test to incoming air travelers, the conduct of strong surveillance on communities, particularly the COVID-19 clusters where there is influenza-like illnesses to contact tracing.
“Residents here are required for COVID-19 testing even if they do not have direct exposure to COVID-19 positive individuals,” she said.
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio mulled on coming up with a new Executive Order to custom fit with the surge in Manila especially for arriving or in-bound passengers.
She revealed there is no checking on passengers going out of Davao City but more on passengers coming in since COVID-19 infection must be prevented by people going to Davao City.
Duterte-Carpio underscored that the swabbing at the Davao International Airport is being handled by the One World Genome Center is costing ₱ 4,500.
She explained the negative RT-PCR result-requirement is no longer free and is based on an ordinance which allows the expense.
“We are requiring the RT-PCR test which is no longer free of charge since we based its implementation on the ordinance which calls for people to pay accordingly,” Duterte-Carpio said.
She said the people could still have access to RT-PCR swab test if it is processed through the Phil. Health Insurance Corporation. Duterte-Carpio also ordered the Vaccine Cluster to release all vaccines for all medical front liners.
She bared that the AstraZeneca’s commitment to deliver 30,000 doses of vaccines will be on the third quarter of the year. Duterte-Carpio said regardless of number of doses and brand, vaccines are expected here during the last week of March, 2021.
She also said that the liquor ban will not be lifted even beyond March 31, since a second wave of COVID-19 is inevitable.
Duterte-Carpio stressed that the measure will continue so that the people will not be confused of the regulation. (Joey Sem G. Dalumpines, PIA XI | Michael Manguhig, RPN DXKT Davao OIC)
