The Department of Health XI reminded the local government units the need to continue and intensify the BIDA Campaign, the need for granular assessment of areas as cases of COVID19 start rising in some areas of the region, the importance to maximize testing capacity as well as augmentation on contact tracing and full utilization on the implementation of QR codes to aid information on areas with high number of cases.
These were highlighted during the 2nd quarter Full Council Meeting of the Regional Development Council XI as the health office was tasked to present to the council the COVID 19 situation in Davao Region.
The BIDA campaign is the government’s official campaign highlighting the practice of minimum health standards such as the wearing of face mask, physical distancing, proper hygiene and knowing the right and accurate information.
As of June 8, 2021, DOH XI reported 382 new cases of COVID19 in the region bringing the total number of active cases to 5,031.
Of these new cases, 244 are from Davao City, 52 from Davao del Norte, 50 from Davao de Oro, 27 from Davao del Sur, 8 from Davao Oriental, and 1 from Davao Occidental.
Fourteen cases of death were reported on that day which includes 4 from Davao City, 4 from Davao de Oro, 3 from Davao del Norte, and 3 from Davao Oriental.
Local government units were advised to push for granular assessment of areas with the rising of cases have been observed in the entire region.
The DOH XI identified areas with high-risk level using the 2WGR and ADAR methods. These are Buhangin district, Calinan, Districts A,B,C,D, Sasa, Talomo Central, Talomo North, and Talomo South all in davao City; Laak and Maragusan in Davao de Oro; Tagum City; Hagonoy and Santa Cruz in Davao del Sur; Jose Abad Santos and Santa Maria in Davao Occidental; Banaybanay, Cateel, Governor Generoso, and Lupon in Davao Oriental.
The DOH XI also presented thru the DOH Data Collect Bed Tracker Application that the critical care utilization rate of Davao Region as of June 5, 2021 for its designated COVID19 ICU beds are classified to be in the high risk; ward beds in moderate risk, while isolation beds and mechanical ventilators remain to be in the low risk. The utilized beds are occupied by all suspect, probable and confirmed COVID19 cases.
On contact tracing, the health department reported that region-wide there is a high percentage on the traced confirmed cases. Out of the 30,388 confirmed cases, 24,572 or 81 percent were traced while 96 percent of the 233,232 identified close contacts were traced, assessed, and monitored.
In Davao City, where most cases are transmitted within the workplaces, Mayor Sara Duterte reiterated in her radio program over Davao City Disaster Radio last Monday her call for private offices and establishments to report COVID19 confirmed cases to avoid widespread transmission.
“Let us use this as a lesson to all offices and establishments nga once nga may nagpositive dinha sa inyong mga employees, dili nila itagu-tagu. Pag dili nila i-contain, modaghan gyud sya. In the end, malockdown gyud and ilang offices and establishments because of the widespread of transmission,” the mayor said.
The Department of Labor and Employment XI regional director Ofelia Domingo reported in the DOH virtual presser last Monday that the office received 1,627 reports from establishments from January to May 2021 with a total of 155,353 workers.
Of these reports, 71 establishments declared to have workers who were confirmed with COVID19 totaling to 119 workers.
Establishments which are Business Processing Outsourcing in nature reported 41 confirmed cases; the service sector with 74 cases; banking and finance with 44 cases; construction with 44 cases; wholesale and retail with 32 cases.
Domingo, however, clarified that of this number they have not yet included in the report the recent rise of cases in a BPO company in Davao City as it only happened on the early days of June and was not yet reported to the DOLE XI. (PIA XI/Frances Mae Macapagat)
