Davao City – Amid a downward trend of Covid-19 cases in Davao City, the city government is bracing for a potential mega surge of the SARS-Cov-2 transmission by expanding the mandatory testing, preparing all health and quarantine facilities, and strengthening case finding.
On Wednesday during the Covid-19 Alert Program over the city-owned Davao City Disaster Radio, Davao City Covid-19 Task Force Focal Person Dr. Ashley Lopez said that the city is preparing a contingency plan for the potential mega surge of cases.
“We have already made a contingency plan for what we call a mega surge. We have anticipated that this surge that happened in NCR and Cebu could happen in the whole country. This is also possible since the holy week is coming up,” Lopez said.
The plan, according to Lopez, includes preparations for the temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMF), the isolation and quarantine facilities, staffing, and encouraging private hospitals to participate and allocate hospital beds for Covid-19 patients.
Also, the Task Force has started implementing the Expanded Mandatory Testing of all close contacts in all levels of a Covid-19 positive patient.
“When you say all levels, tanan nga possible close contacts, not only direct contacts like F1 but it involves also the second generation and third generation contacts. Atoa na siyang i-trace up so we could test them,” he said.
Lopez said that the more testing the city has, the more the Task Force can accurately assess the Covid-19 situation in Davao City.
Aside from the expanded mandatory testing, the Task Force is also implementing intensified case finding and influenza-like illness and acute respiratory infections (ARI) surveillance.
“Mao ni siya ang mga sipon, ubo, kalintura nga moabot og 38 degrees and last for about 10 days or more.”
Lopez urged Dabawenyos experiencing said illnesses to help the government in its fight against Covid-19 by going to the nearest District Health Office and be scheduled for swab testing.
Downward trend of cases
Lopez revealed that Davao City is experiencing a decreasing Covid-19 case for the past 14 days.
“As of 6 PM March 30, there are 43 new confirmed Covid-19 cases. We now have a total of 335 active cases,” said Lopez.
Lopez recalled that the city suffered the last post-holiday surge with active cases rising to 2,500.
Despite a downward trend of cases, the city is not complacent with the possibility of a massive surge in cases in the coming months due to the upcoming Lenten Season.
Lopez also reminded Dabawenyos to continue to strictly follow the stay home campaign of the city and following the minimum health protocols such as wearing face masks, physical distancing, and frequent handwashing. (City Information Office | Michael Manguhig, RPN DXKT Davao OIC)
