Davao City is now facing an increasing number of Covid-19 cases and the main contributor to the spike is workplace transmission.
Dr. Ashley Lopez, acting head of the City Health Office (CHO), confirmed that transmission of Covid-19 are now happening in various workplaces like banks, BPOs (Business Process Outsourcing), and even government offices.
“A number of cases also noticed due to mass and social gatherings,” Lopez said in a text message.
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio earlier disclosed that there is clustering of cases in the households and workplaces that contribute to the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in Davao City.
“Klaro na gyud kaayo na pataas na ang atoang cases ug nakit-an pud nato nga increasing ang atoang cases sa mga hospitals ug sa atoang mga Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities (TTMFs), therefore makita increasing gyud ang atoang trend,” she said.
Based on the report as of May 17, 2021, there are 43 cases due to household transmission and 21 outside household transmission wherein 13 cases are from workplace transmission.
“Various workplace duna ta’y call centers, schools, government offices, and private offices, sagol-sagol siya. Mas taas ang household transmission. Makita nato still ang balay ug opisina ang daghan clustering of cases. Naturally, sa balay wala naman ta’y distancing and face mask and diri sa office tungod sa nagtapok ang mga tao sa enclosed na opisina or building,” the mayor said.
The city has noted an increase of Covid-19 cases in Davao City since the start of this month. Lopez said this is partly brought about by the city’s heightened surveillance and expanded contact tracing.
Lopez also said that Dabawenyos’ lack of adherence to the minimum health standard protocols adds to the surging of cases.
Meanwhile, based on the Regional Situation Update on Covid-19 in Davao Region as of 5 p.m. of May 21, 2021, the Department of Health-Davao Center for Health Development reported 199 new cases of Covid-19 in Davao Region bringing the total number of active cases to 1,725.
Of these new cases, 118 were from Davao City, 44 from Davao del Norte, 19 from Davao del Sur, eight from Davao de Oro, six from Davao Oriental and four from Davao Occidental. On the other hand, BPO workers are now included in the government’s A4 Covid-19 vaccination priority list to further spur economic recovery.
In a statement, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez stated that the BPO sector is one of the economic activities that support the economy as its operations remain open despite quarantine lockdowns.
