Monday, June 21, 2021

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Coronavirus variant detected in Mati City

Posted: 21 Jun 2021 07:28 AM PDT

NINE samples of confirmed Covid-19 patients from Mati City, Davao Oriental have been identified to have the more virulent lineage of B.1.1.28 variant (Gamma).

In a press release from the Mati City Information Office on Monday morning, June 21, 2021, the samples from the province were submitted to the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) on June 10.

The City Government said a total of 991 samples were submitted by three Covid-19 testing facilities to the PGC for genome sequencing.

The result showed that samples from Davao Oriental have nine with the B.1.1.28 variant of the Sars-CoV-2, the virus causing the Covid-19. One has the B.1 variant, another one has the B.1.78, and another has the A.4 variant while the results of 69 samples are still pending.

The P.1 variant, which was first reported in Brazil, is a descendant of the Gamma variant. The P.1 lineage contains three mutations in the spike protein receptor-binding domain: K417T, E484K, and N501Y.

Experts said there is evidence to suggest that some of the mutations in the P.1 variant may affect its transmissibility and antigenic profile, which may affect the ability of antibodies generated through previous natural infection or through vaccination to recognize and neutralize the virus.

Mati Incident Management Team (IMT) commander Dr. Ben Hur Catbagan Jr. said the new variant could be the reason why there is a surge in the number of new cases not just in the city but in all other areas of the country as well.

Catbagan said they have observed faster transmission and severe symptoms from the new cases which are all traits of the new variants of Covid-19.

As of June 20, the City of Mati has 91 active cases which are 70 percent higher compared to the month of May. Four deaths have also been reported so far for this month compared to last month's two Covid fatalities.

There are also 12 clustering cases recorded mostly from health facilities, offices or workplaces, and family gatherings.

He said, though, that there are zero cases of infections coming from locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) including tourists. Catbagan said that in the past months, all new cases are from local transmissions.

The City Government said the surge of cases has resulted in more than 100 percent occupancy of the Covid-19 beds at the Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center.

Referral of moderate to severe Covid-19 patients to the Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) in Tagum City is also experiencing delays due to a surge in the latter's facility.

The surge has resulted in the putting up of an alternate care site in Milagrosa and other temporary treatment and monitoring facilities in the city are forced to accommodate moderate Covid-19 cases or those who are symptomatic with pneumonia, due to the limited bed allocations of referral facilities.

As part of the risk management interventions by the Mati IMT, they have begun utilizing the Davao Oriental State University (Dorsu) Dormitory as an extension isolation facility as of June 20.

Currently, around 15 confirmed mild cases have already been admitted at the facility.

The Mati government has also rented a private dormitory facility in Barangay Dahican which will serve as an isolation facility for Rapid Antigen Test positive or probable cases while awaiting RT-PCR confirmatory tests.

In addition, the City Extension Quarantine Facility located in Barangay Central will continue to serve as temporary quarantine quarters for ROF/LSI/local transmission (LT) who have no reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results to be shown upon entering the city.

All barangay isolation units will also continue to serve as backup isolation/quarantine facilities for ROF, LSI, LT, close contacts of confirmed cases, and tele-med patients exhibiting influenza-like illnesses waiting for testing.

Catbagan reiterated their call to continue the public's compliance of the minimum health protocols such as wearing of face mask and/or face shield, physical distancing from others, avoiding crowded places, and hand washing.

At present, seven percent vaccination coverage of the target population of 92,685 is already achieved. The Mati IMT aims to reach 10 percent by September, 40 percent by December 2021, and hopefully, 70 percent next year if supplies are adequate.

Based on the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases classification, Mati and the rest of Davao Oriental are under modified general community until June 30. (With reports from Mati CIO)

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Mayor: No talks yet on Davao City going into ECQ

Posted: 21 Jun 2021 07:27 AM PDT

PLACING the entire Davao City under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is not being discussed at the local government unit's (LGU) level, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said Monday, June 21, amid the continuing surge of active cases in the city.

This is the mayor's response to the statement made by Dr. Butch Ong of the Octa Research Group in an interview with RMN Davao on Thursday (June 17).

"Now that I am looking at your numbers, nasa (it is already) 397 [new daily case], perhaps by the end of the week or by the end of next week, kung hindi ito bababa ay baka kailangan natin i-upgrade ito sa (if this figure will not go down, maybe there is a need to upgrade it to) enhanced community quarantine," Ong said.

He added that according to their observation from last year's surge and from the experience surge in April at the National Capital Region (NCR) Bubble, which was placed under ECQ and modified ECQ (MECQ), the spike of cases were "arrested" and have continuously decreased until now.

Duterte-Carpio said the city will only abide by the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

"Wala ta'y discussions ana sa level sa (We do not have that discussed at the level of the) local government of Davao. We should remember na kanang (that) Octa Research is not a government research center. Ang ginasunod nato sa discussions sa community quarantine kanang sa IATF (We will listen to what has been discussed by the IATF with regards to the community quarantine). Kung unsa ilang ihatag o i-recommend na community quarantine status sa atong siyudad, ginasunod nato dira sa IATF (We will follow their recommendations on the community quarantine status of the city)," the mayor said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

Davao City was placed under MECQ from June 5 to 20 following the surge of cases in the city, resulting in the overwhelming occupancy of Covid-19 referral hospitals and temporary treatment and monitoring facility (TTMF).

The IATF has extended the MECQ until June 30.

Despite placing the city under a tight quarantine status, active cases in the city have continued to surge.

According to the Department of Health-Davao Region data as of June 20, Davao City has 4,669 active cases, currently the highest since the pandemic in March 2020.

When asked if the city is still able to control the surge of cases in the city, she responded, "With regard sa atoang action plan, kontrolado nato. But ang virus dili nato kontrolado kung asa siya padulong. (With regards to our action plan, we have things under control but what we cannot control is where the virus goes)."

Duterte-Carpio said the continuous surge is most likely due to the emergence of the new Covid-19 variants. But she said this has yet to be confirmed.

She also said the continued mobility of people coming outside their residences also attributed to the current surge in the city.

She added that there are also transmissions happening within households.

"Plus kanang infections nga mahitabo sa sulod sa balay kay sa sulod sa balay wala man gyud tas mask wala man tay distancing (Infections are happening within households because no one wears a face mask and distancing is not being observed), we don't practice minimum public health standards inside sa atoang mga balay (at home)," Duterte-Carpio said.

The mayor also clarified that the city is also not keen on reimplementing the food and medicine (FM) pass anytime soon.

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Duterte-Carpio: Presidency is not for me

Posted: 21 Jun 2021 07:26 AM PDT

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said on Monday, June 21, 2021, that the presidency is not intended for a "woman" like her.

Duterte, in a radio interview, quoted her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, who said the "presidency is not a woman's job."

"President Duterte said that the presidency is not a woman's job, so particularly [it's] not for me. So if he decided to run for vice-president (VP), let's not expect that he will get me as his running mate [since I am a woman]," she said.

In March, members of the ruling PDP-Laban party urged President Duterte to run for vice president in 2022.

When asked about the possibility of joining the PDP-Laban as a guest candidate, the mayor said she has no plan to join the party.

"I have no plans of joining a national political party. As I said, I will stay with Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) in Davao Region and Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod in Davao City," she said.

She also confirmed that there are individuals who signified interest to be her running mate should she decide to run for president in next year's polls.

"Yes, there are a lot of them who expressed their intent [to run for VP as my running mate], but I cannot answer them because there is no final answer yet," she added.

Despite the cold feet in running for the country's top post, the presidential daughter however thanked the continuous support poured unto her.

"To those who expressed their support, I thank you all for the trust and confidence you have given to me as a person and as a public official," she added. (PNA)

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City to distribute ‘care kits’ for Covid-19 patients at home

Posted: 21 Jun 2021 07:26 AM PDT

THE Davao City Government is set to distribute "care kits" for mild and asymptomatic Covid-19 patients waiting to be transported at the city's quarantine facilities.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said in a radio interview on Monday, June 21, that this is the city's response to the increasing number of Covid-19 cases and the full capacity of isolation facilities.

Duterte-Carpio said the health response cluster will be rolling out care kits to positive patients who are self-isolating within their residence.

"We are readying care kits. Kani siya ginahatag didto sa mga [Covid-19 positive nga mga] tao nga naa pa didto sa ilahang mga balay and wala pa sila na pick-up or waiting in line sila, or puno na ang mga [Covid-19] facilities (This will be for Covid-19 patients who are waiting to be transported from their homes to the isolation facilities, which are currently full)," she said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

The mayor said the kit includes instructions on what the patient needs to do while waiting to be transported.

This also includes a digital thermometer, pulse oximeter, 10 pieces of vitamin C, five pieces of paracetamol, disposable face masks, and alcohol.

Patients who are waiting for pick-up can also use the city government's "telemedicine" program, where they can consult with a doctor, via phone call, about their medical condition and what to do in case they will manifest symptoms.

Meanwhile, the care kits will not be rolled out to moderate, critical, and severe patients as they are immediately transported to the Covid-19 referral hospitals for immediate critical care treatment.

City Health Office Acting Head Dr. Ashley Lopez said in an interview on June 16, 2021 that Covid-19 patients waiting to be transported at the city's quarantine facilities have been advised to self-isolate in their rooms.

Lopez said they are having delays in transporting confirmed Covid-19 patients to temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMFs) due to a surge in cases in the city.

As of June 21, Duterte-Carpio said the city has a total of 1,957 isolation beds, of which 638 are still available, while out of the 443 quarantine beds, 227 beds are still unutilized.

The mayor said the city is planning to add four more quarantine facilities to augment the rising cases in the city.

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