The city will launch the three-day Aggressive Community Testing (ACT) starting today (December 1, 2020) in selected barangays and districts in Davao City. The ACT is one of the measures recommended by the national government to contain the spread of Covid-19.
The National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 and the Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (C.O.D.E.) Team, which have embarked on an aggressive testing in the provinces as part of the Test, Trace, Treat strategy to detect Covid-19 cases, will lead the campaign.
Dr. Evelino Buenaventura, ACT focal person of the Davao City Health Office, said in a virtual presser on Monday that on December 1 testing are scheduled in Talomo Central District, which will be conducted at Shanghai Gym; and Toril A and B, which will be conducted near Toril health Center.
On Dec. 2: Talomo South at Central Park Gym; Talomo North at SIR Phase 2 Gym; and District A at Bankerohan Gym; while on December 3: Tugbok at Mintal Gym and Buhangin District at Buhangin Gym.
Buenaventura said all in all there are eight sites identified in Davao City targeted for the conduct of ACT in three days.
The ACT flow covers close contacts of a positive Covid-19 patients will be fetch by the rapid Action team (RAT) or designated barangay vehicle; the close contacts will undergo swab testing; information of the close contacts will be recorded; after the test, close contacts will be brought back to their respective homes and advised to strictly follow quarantine protocols.
“Katong mga na-identify na positive cases kailangan i-contact trace tanan ang ilahang close contacts. Naa ta’y listing sa close contacts (F1, F2, F3) included ang mga frontliners, health workers, and other sub-groups na vulnerable population such as the senior citizens,” Buenaventura said.
The individuals who are classified as F1 are the close contacts of the confirmed Covid-19 positive, F2 are close contacts of F1, and F3 are close contacts of F2.
Buenaventura said the city is targeting to swab 1,000 individuals each site and expecting 2,300 to 2,800 individuals for the eight sites.
“Maramihan ito so we must be prepared for the surge of cases and number of swabbed individuals. Sa ngayon we are ready for the eight sites for Dec. 1,2, and 3,” he said.
Beunaventura also said with the expected surge of cases due to the conduct of ACT, the city government of Davao is planning to open more isolation and quarantine facilities.
“Presently there are than 100 isolation and quarantine facilities in Davao City. As of the moment kaya pa up to 1,000 to 2000 beds to isolate and quarantine individuals,” he said.
He added that the city also identified hotel isolation facilities to cater the significant amount of swabbed individuals.
“Meron mga barangays na mataas ang kaso. Hindi lang po ito gagawin sa Davao City, from December 1 to 8 gagawin din po ito sa iba’t ibang parte ng Davao Region,” said Dr. Abdullah Dumama Jr., Undersecretary of the Department of Health (DOH).
ACT will be conducted also in Davao del Sur (Digos City and Sta. Cruz), Davao del Norte (Tagum City, Panabo City, Island Garden City of Samal) and Kapalong.
Dumama said barangays and districts were identified upon the recommendation of the Provincial Health Office, Municipal Health Office and City Health Office.
Dumama said 10,000 individuals in the entire Davao Region are targeted for ACT. He also said specimens will be sent to Cebu City and that results are expected to be available not more than 48 hours.
“The specimens from ACT will be send to Cebu para di na ma–overwhelm ang SPMC. The result will be available not more than 48 hours. I hope matutupad natin yun. We will make sure that not more than 48 hours para mabigyan ng sapat na treatment ang ating mga kababayan,” he said.
Dumama added that health workers and nurses are not a problem as 19 health workers from National Capital Region (NCR) will arrive in Davao to augment the health workers here.
He also said 20 nurses and health workers from Cebu will be assigned at private hospitals to assist in Covid-19 treatment.
For those individuals who will refuse to swab testing, Buenaventura said there will be uniformed men or security group task to forcefully get clients so they will be swabbed.
“We have the uniformed men together with partner barangay kailangan kunin ang clients na ma-swab,” he said.
“Hindi puwedeng umayaw lalong lalo na kung ikaw ay expose. This is a matter of national security. We are not threatening you. If ever ma-identify ka, you should submit yourself for swab test,” Dumama said.
