The city government of Davao is increasing the city’s capacity to test Covid-19 patients by adding three more laboratories.
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio disclosed that the city is waiting for the laboratories to be set up — one is to be donated by Unilab, the second is a laboratory in Los Amigos City Health Office, and a third is from the Davao Doctors Hospital (DDH).
“Once we have that up and running, all in all, we have five laboratories for Davao City and mga silingan nato diri sa Davao Region,” she said. Currently, the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) and the Davao One World Laboratory are still the lead hospitals serve as Covid-19 testing laboratories in Davao City.
The city has to boost testing capacity as Covid-19 cases continue to increase.
Based on the data of the Department of Health-Center for Health Development as August 17, 2020, there are a total of 1,137 cases in Davao City wherein 216 are active cases. The total recoveries are 874 while the total deaths 47. The cadavers cremated were 236 and seven still pending. Mayor Sara said a PCR machine will be donated by the Department of Tourism (DOT) to the city to be used for passengers, travelers to Davao City, and for tourism in the future.
“Bisan pa man dunay Covid-19, we look forward na ma-abrihan ang atong turismo. Local yes, within the region seguro kung outside of Davao Region since duna man travel authority na kinahanglan but under an MGCQ kanang leisure na mga establishments are open,” she said.Under a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), only three establishments are now allowed to operate: gallera, beer houses and kids entertainment.
“But of course kanang naa lang dinhi daghan naman ang open na estalishments. Mix ang signals sa IATF because even pa man ug open ang mga leisure establishments naa gihapon quarantine. So ang priority gihapon nato karon is stay home so dili ta maka-sulti nga favorable siya sa tourism, but of course duna’y pag-pangandam ang Department of Tourism and duna silay PCR machines nga ilang ipa-hatag ug magamit sa city government of Davao for the travelers and future tourism activities,” the mayor said.
The said machine will be set up at the Los Amigos City Health Office.
