Wednesday, March 31, 2021

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/

14-day quarantine for passengers from NCR+, Cebu eyed

Posted: 31 Mar 2021 05:58 AM PDT

THE Davao City Health Office (CHO) is planning to recommend to the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force the mandatory 14-day quarantine for all air passengers coming from the National Capital Region plus bubble (NCR+) areas and the entire Cebu Province.

CHO Acting Head Dr. Ashley Lopez said in a radio interview on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, that this is still subject for the approval of the Covid-19 Task Force.

"Mas maayo unta kanang mga muabot nga (It would be better that all) inbound passengers from both NCR plus ug Cebu provinces nga muabot sa (coming in to) Davao City, ideally dapat ma-quarantine na sila (they should be quarantined) for 14 days, whether they are positive or negative," Lopez said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

This after Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces and Cebu are experiencing a surge of cases.

Lopez said this is a preventive measure for a "second wave" of case surge in the city.

At present, based on the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) Resolution 101, on February 26, travelers will no longer be required to undergo quarantine unless he or she manifests symptoms of Covid-19 upon arrival.

Once approved, the health official said all travelers from these areas will be quarantined at the city's quarantine facility.

Travelers who will manifest symptoms during the quarantine period will be brought to the treatment and isolation facilities for immediate medical care, he said.

He said this is to ensure that those coming to the city are Covid-19 free.

Lopez said that not all who got their RT-PCR test have been tested in the prescribed period of time. Hence, the need to quarantine arriving air passengers.

"Timing is very important sa (with) testing, pero kung gusto nato na ma-contain and dili mukatag ang (but if we want to contain the spread of the) Covid-19 infection, including the new variants, dapat gyud unta nato ma-quarantine atong (we need to quarantine all) inbound passengers coming from Cebu and Manila," he said.

The city recently brought back the mandatory negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results to all arriving all passengers planning to enter the city via the Francisco Bangoy International Airport, also known as the Davao International Airport.

According to City Ordinance 0477-21, RT-PCR test results must be within 24 to 72 hours prior to departure.

Based on the virus's incubation period, it would take 14 days for the signs and symptoms to manifest.

"Example, na-test siya sa Manila, nag-negative, tapos katong iyang testing (a passenger was tested in Manila then it turned out negative, and then the test) fall on the second or third-day sa (in its) incubation period, natural mag-negative gyud na. So wala na sila'y manifestation (it would test negative. Therefore, no manifestation of symptoms)," Lopez said

He added, "Pag-abot og Davao [City], mudagan ang adlaw... pagka-seventh day pa lang sila nag-manifest og symptoms. Wala na, nakasulod na og Davao (When the passenger reaches Davao City and stays here for a few days, by the seventh day the passenger may start to manifest signs and symptoms. But it would be too late since the passenger is already in the city)."

Lopez said he will be proposing this in the next meeting with the task force and seek approval from Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

He said he is hoping that this would be approved in order to regulate the influx of passengers coming into the city, which is linked as one of the factors of the increase of cases.

This is also a response to the growing number of apprehended passengers for presenting falsified RT-PCR test results.

As of March 29, the city already apprehended 60 individuals.

Public Safety and Security Command Center head Angel Sumagaysay said they will be facing charges for violation of Republic Act 11332, also known as the "Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act," for not declaring health status.

Lopez said this action poses danger not only to the passenger but to the community as well.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

60 arrested in Davao City for false RT-PCR test results

Posted: 31 Mar 2021 05:32 AM PDT

THE Davao City Government has already apprehended around 60 individuals for presenting falsified reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results upon arrival at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport, also known as the Davao International Airport (DIA).

Based on the data provided by the Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) from November 13, 2020 to March 29, 2021, out of the 60 individuals intercepted, 32 cases have been filed, three individuals are up for inquest, while 25 other arrested individuals will face charges through regular filing.

According to the report, there were also five uniformed personnel arrested for submitting falsified Covid-19 swab test results.

PSSCC head Angel Sumagaysay said in a press conference on Wednesday, March 31, that most of those arrested were travelers from Manila and Cebu.

"Itong inbound passenger, ating hinihigpitan ngayon, lalo na (We are strictly monitoring all inbound passengers right now, especially) from NCR [National Capital Region] and Cebu," Sumagaysay said.

Currently, there are four individuals detained for falsification of RT-PCR test results, while 23 others were released on bail.

Since the city reimposed the mandatory RT-PCR test at DIA beginning March 23, Sumagaysay said the city was able to apprehend 10 passengers for presenting a falsified result.

This is in accordance with City Ordinance 0477-21, which the Davao City Government reinstated requiring individuals to submit a negative RT-PCR test result taken within 24 to 72 hours prior to entry into the city via DIA.

He said they will be facing charges for violation of Republic Act 11332, also known as the "Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act," for not declaring health status.

Sumagaysay advised the public to also check the legitimacy of the clinic before getting a swab test after one passenger tested positive for the disease.

"Naa ta'y isa ka case nga iyang gi-edit ang result, ang gipakita niya kay negative tong gi-verify kung asa sya nagpa-swab and it turned out nga positive sya (We have a case that the passenger tampered his test result and when we verified where he got his test, it turned out that he is positive)," he said.

He also said a prominent politician residing outside Davao Region who entered via DIA and is planning to travel by land to the neighboring region was also one of those apprehended for submitting a fake RT-PCR test.

"This proves walang pili ating apprehension sa airport -- mapa-private ka, mapa-public officials, mapa-uniform [personnel], lahat. Para at least, makita nila na pantay din yung treatment natin (that we are not selective in apprehending anyone in the airport -- whether you're a private individual, public official, or even uniformed personnel. At least we could show it to them that everyone will undergo the same treatment)," Sumagaysay said.

City Health Office Acting Head Dr. Ashley Lopez reiterated the importance of reimposing the mandatory RT-PCR test as a preventive measure from the possible surge of cases in the city.

City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) head and Airport Health Monitoring Team head Generose Tecson, in a previous report, warned passengers from attempting to falsify their test result as this could endanger not only themselves, but also other passengers.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio also reminded Davao-bound passengers not to falsify their documents because it will just put them and other people in danger.

"Automatic, pag-fake imong gi-present, dili na mi maminaw sa explanation, i-hold kana deresto and bayran nimo imong testing, hulaton ang test result nimo. Kung negative ka, deresto na sa inquest. Kung positive ka, deresto na ka dal-on sa facility, filing of case will follow (If you presented a fake RT-PCR, you will be arrested immediately. You will pay for your testing and wait for the result. If you tested negative, you will be directed for an inquest, right away. If positive, you will be sent to the isolation facility while filing of the case will follow)," Duterte-Carpio said.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

City’s security forces to strictly monitor resorts

Posted: 31 Mar 2021 05:30 AM PDT

SECURITY clusters in Davao City will strictly monitor all beaches, beach resorts, and other inland water resorts in the city, especially those in the hinterland areas, in preparation of the possible influx of tourists this Holy Week.

This is in accordance with the issued Executive Order (EO) 19 on Monday, March 29, 2021.

From 12:01 a.m. of April 1 until 11:59 p.m. of April 4, the mentioned establishments are prohibited from operating and catering to tourists.

"There is a need to prevent mass gathering in beaches and inland water resorts during the long holiday weekend for Holy Week," Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said in the EO.

The mayor also said the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force is working on preventing a second wave of Covid-19 case surge in the city.

Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) head Angel Sumagaysay said in a press conference on March 31 they already mobilized members of the security cluster to implement the EO.

Sumagaysay said they can assure that they will be able to monitor all resorts within the downtown area. He added that they will be strictly monitoring far flung resorts in second and third district areas.

"Palagay ko dito sa baba [downtown area], walang problema. (We have no problem in the downtown area. But then like sa (in) Marilog, Paquibato, and even Calinan [and] Baguio, marami tayong tourist destinations na meron silang mga (that have) inland [resorts]," he said.

He added that they will also monitor the area of Bukidnon-Davao Road (Buda) where there are several inland resorts.

Marilog and Buda are well-known tourist destinations in the city due to its high elevation and cold weather, comparable to Baguio City.

The security head said they will augment more personnel before April 1 to monitor these areas.

He also said they also tapped different barangay officials to watch over the resorts in the hinterlands.

"Sa laki ng Davao City, hindi lahat mabantayan ng police. (With the size of the city, our police cannot monitor all areas properly) We really need the support of the punong barangays," the PSSCC head said.

With the expanded involved monitoring team, Sumagaysay said they hope to be able to strictly monitor all the resorts in the city.

Establishments that will violate the EO will be facing sanctions or closure from the Davao City Business Bureau. Another monitoring agency includes the City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO), which will also check whether the establishments abide by the EO and whether they are licensed to operate.

Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Chief Kirby John Kraft said they will also augment police personnel to watch over nearby bodies of water including creeks, and rivers.

Kraft said motorists traveling to these areas can expect long queues, as leisure travels are still not permitted as these belong to "non-essential" travels.

"Mag-i-inspect yung ating mga quarantine control points lalo na yung papunta ng (Our personnel in the quarantine control points will thoroughly inspect those who will travel to) Buda and Marilog areas," the DCPO Chief said.

Meanwhile, Kraft said they will also monitor different churches this Holy Week.

He reiterated that church activities are only allowed within their confined areas, and that outside activities, such as procession, are strictly prohibited.

Churches are also mandated to observe the 50-percent maximum seating capacity, the police chief said.

Meanwhile, Davao City Health Office acting head Dr. Ashley Lopez said the city is bracing for a possible surge in Covid-19 cases right after Holy Week.

He said they are expecting a case surge if churchgoers will not strictly observe the minimum health protocols.

"That's why we are preparing for our contingency plans, including additional preparation for our TTMFs [temporary treatment and monitoring facilities], isolation and quarantine facilities, staffing and even encouraging our private hospitals to participate and to have preparation for possible allocation of beds," Lopez said in an interview on Wednesday, March 31 on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

He also said they are already communicating with the Southern Philippines Medical Center for the expansion of beds for critical and severe Covid-19 patients.

While he said the city continues to experience a downtrend of cases, Lopez said the city must continue to abide by the minimum health protocols to prevent the "second wave" of case surge.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

10-day-old baby from Mati recovers from Covid-19

Posted: 31 Mar 2021 04:33 AM PDT

A COVID-19 patient, designated as MC-518 and a newborn, has been declared as recovered by the City of Mati Incident Management Team Wednesday, March 31, 2021.

The baby was only three days old when she was confirmed to have Covid-19.

The baby and her mother, MC-515, are, however, asymptomatic and were readily isolated at the Alternate Care Site.

The mother is a close contact of her husband, MC-507, who was symptomatic.

MC-515 was already in isolation when she was rushed to the Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center on March 21 to give birth to MC-518.

Immediately after giving birth, the mother and daughter were isolated at the Alternate Care Site in Milagrosa.

The father has already recovered last March 28.

MC-518 is 10 days old when she and her mother were declared recovered on Wednesday.

MC-518 is the youngest Covid-19 survivor in the City of Mati and perhaps the country. (PR)

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

End of Summer Sale ☀️😎

20% OFF Inside!🤯 ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏...