Davao City – The Department of Health (DOH XI) has reported the clustering of cases in congested urban communities in Davao City. This was made apparent after a series of barangay-wide lockdowns were imposed in two (2) areas of the city where a number of individuals were found positive for the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Based on data provided by DOH XI, the total number of documented local COVID-19 cases in the Davao region were only numbered at 115 last June. When compared to data from August 1 to 19 with a total of 519 cases, this places specific importance to the incidence of clustered local transmission for both the general public and local health professionals.
The Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) for DOH XI Dr. Cleo Fe Tabada – in a recent virtual presser with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA XI) – discussed how local health authorities have been uncovering clustering of COVID-19 transmission in congested communities within the city.
“Based on lockdowns and the cases in [Davao City] communities, there are areas where there was a recorded [COVID-19 positive] case and the disease spread, while there are also areas where there are cases and we incidentally tested other individuals as being positive [for COVID-19] as part of lockdown protocols,” Tabada said.
Tabada discussed the factors involved in the clustering of recent COVID-19 cases in Davao City and how these can pose as hurdles in the fight against containing the spread of the said disease.
“The most common factor in the spread of COVID-19 is because these specific instances of transmission are happening in congested places – in places so congested that they [residents] cannot help but get in close contact with each other even if we impose specific restrictions … we also observed upon visiting the said areas that the residents would only use face masks or face shields in commercial areas but once within the residential areas or compounds – people would fail to comply with said health safety standards,” Tabada added.
Despite the current realities faced within congested communities in urban centers such as in Davao City, the DOH reminds everyone that there is still a way for residents who live in said communities to minimize the incidence of local COVID-19 transmission.
“We’re hoping really that the people in these communities would follow with the prescribed minimum public health safety standards such as the wearing of face masks and constant washing of hands,” Tabada said.
In line with this, the DOH XI is promoting a mindset for people to observe dubbed as ‘Labanan ang COntraVIDa: BIDA Solusyon sa Covid19’ to control clustering in congested areas. This is an information campaign to raise awareness in maintaining basic health safety standards such as the wearing of face masks, constant sanitation of hands, physical distancing, and proper use of true and accurate information. (Kevin Caro)
(Source: Philippine Information Agency XI)