Davao City’s COVID cases still low

Dr. Michelle Schlosser, the spokesperson of the city’s COVID-19 Task Force said COVID-19 cases remain lower than the five percent acceptable positivity rate.

“We continue to have controlled cases. However, even if we have low cases, we continue implementing our Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate (PDITR) plus strategy,” she said.

The PDITR plus strategy according to Schlosser has never stopped despite the full capacity and fully operational status of all offices and establishments under the city's alert level 1 category.

She said quarantining and isolation of those infected with the coronavirus and the traditional contact tracing of the close contacts are also ongoing along with the treatment of COVID-19 patients and vaccination.

Schlosser also said the city continues to give free swab tests to those with influenza-like illnesses and close contact with COVID-19 positive patients. Free isolation services are also available for infected individuals who have mild symptoms or are asymptomatic.

Home isolation has also been allowed for asymptomatics.

While most school-based TTMFs were returned to the Department of Education (Deped), the city's COVID-19 cluster clinics also have isolation beds.

As of April 17, the city has a total of 57 active COVID-19 cases.

Out of the number, 27 are currently at Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), nine are in private hospitals, five are in Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facility (TTMFs), five are endorsed to other facilities, and three in-home isolation, and all the rest are for triaging.

"Hopefully, our active cases continue to stay low and hopefully it won't increase but then again as of today, we still have cases so that means the virus is still around so we must remain vigilant,” she said.

Schlosser continuously reminds Dabawenyos to keep wearing face masks at all times, especially in crowded or public places where the risk of transmission is high.

She also said that it's inevitable for anyone to get infected but being fully vaccinated and boostered reduces the risk of suffering from severe to critical symptoms of COVID-19.

The city’s vaccination rollout has been extended until Saturdays to provide more opportunities for working individuals and students to avail the vaccination.