Tuesday, August 17, 2021

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Davao Oriental to establish medical oxygen plant

Posted: 17 Aug 2021 06:47 AM PDT

FOLLOWING the detection of its first two cases of Covid-19 Delta variant, the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental is planning to set up a medical oxygen plant as it braces for a possible surge of cases within the province.

Davao Oriental Provincial Health Officer Dr. Reden Bersaldo said during the Department of Health (DOH)-Davao virtual presser on Monday, August 16, that this was discussed by the Provincial Government in a recent meeting.

Bersaldo said Governor Nelson Dayanghirang, along with the mayors, approved the construction of an oxygen manufacturing plant in the province.

He said they are currently preparing for the necessary requirements to the Food and Drug Administration for them to start the construction of the plant.

"Ang amoang ginakahadlukan gyud is mahutdan og oxygen ang atoang mga patients. So nag-identify mi karon og additional supplier for oxygen para in case mahutdan naa mi stockpile or buffer (We are worried that our patients may run out of oxygen [tanks]. So we identified additional suppliers for oxygen tanks so we can have a stockpile or buffer in case we ran out)," Bersaldo said.

The official said they already identified two suppliers and they are currently weighing on who can provide their demand supply.

Delta case in Davao Oriental

DOH-Davao announced on Sunday evening, August 15, the province's first Delta cases, all from Mati City.

The first patient was a 33-year-old male from Mati. He was swabbed and tested positive last July 10. The specimen was sent to Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC). He was tagged as recovered after finishing the prescribed isolation period. He is scheduled for a repeat swab test.

Another resident from Mati who tested positive for Delta is a 32-year-old female. She was swabbed and tested positive last July 10. The specimen was sent to SPMC. She was tagged as recovered after finishing the prescribed isolation period. She is scheduled for a repeat test.

For the past weeks, Bersaldo said he noted a surge of cases in the province, particularly in Mati.

The Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center (DOPMC), like SPMC and Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC), is also experiencing full capacity of patients brought about by the surge.

Bersaldo said the hospital's current bed capacities are not enough. He said DOPMC has 389 patients, wherein 42 percent are Covid-19 cases.

"If we are going to rely on the capacity of the hospital of DOPMC, which has an authorized bed capacity of 100, sobra-sobrang surge na gyud (this an overwhelming surge already)," the health official said.

The DOPMC expanded and maximized its facilities for severe and critical cases, he said.

With this, he said DOPMC has converted the whole third floor wing as Covid-19 facility.

He also said the province will be expanding its intensive care unit (ICU) beds and ward beds.

The province will also be setting up satellite isolation facilities to augment the demand for additional bed capacities.

Beginning Tuesday, August 17, one of the schools in Dahican, Mati will be converted into an isolation facility that will be housing 30 individual cases for mild and asymptomatic cases.

Bersaldo also said the local government had also identified additional isolation facilities such as hotels and inns, which are not in use due to the pandemic. He added this will be an additional 40 beds.

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City asks Council’s help in identifying unvaxxed A2, A3

Posted: 17 Aug 2021 06:46 AM PDT

THE Davao City Government requested the city councilors to assist the city in identifying Priority Groups A2 (senior citizen) and A3 (persons with comorbidities) who have not yet been vaccinated.

Duterte-Carpio said the mobile vaccination that the councilors will embark on is a "set-up and go" type wherein the councilors will identify a site in coordination with the barangay.

"Gi-request nato ang atoang mga konsehal na mutabang sa pag-roll out sa mga bakuna (We requested our councilors to help us in the vaccine rollout), and we requested them to create their own team under the supervision para sa pag-roll out sa bakuna (for the vaccine rollout)," Duterte-Carpio said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio on Monday, August 16.

The mayor said the mobile vaccination will prioritize individuals under A2 and A3 because they are the vulnerable sector, and were seen to have the highest number of Covid-19 cases.

She added these are individuals who are interested in getting vaccinated but did not sign-up or did not go to vaccine centers.

Unlike in the City Government's vaccination program, the councilors will be identifying these persons, and it will not be a walk-in scheme.

The mayor also said they will go to the barangay and they will schedule a day when they can set up and roll out the vaccination and they pack up at the end of the day. They will move on to another site or barangay the following week.

Duterte-Carpio said the third district has already been organized in an area in Los Amigos, Tugbok.

"This is a mobile vaccination site because their targets are those who belong to the said priority categories," Duterte said.

The mayor said she is optimistic that the first and second district councilors would follow suit.

"Sa first district nato (In the first district), we already have two councilors who are on the planning stage sa ilahang (of their) mobile vaccination site," Duterte-Carpio said.

The City Government had recently organized mobile vaccination sites for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers, migrating workers, and senior citizens.

But she urged the Dabawenyos not to depend on the mobile vaccination initiative as the Safe Davao Quick Response (DQR) vaccination online scheduling system is already available.

"If we see there is a slot sa DQR scheduler nato sa atong fixed vaccination sites, mas maayo they immediately have themselves take that vaccination schedule para mabakunahan sila (If there is an available slot in the DQR scheduler, it would be better if they could get that schedule and have themselves vaccinated)," Duterte-Carpio said.

She also encouraged Dabawenyos to take advantage of the sectoral vaccination.

As of August 16, the city has already inoculated 453,424 Dabawenyos for the first dose, and 297,201 for the second dose. This covers priority groups A1 (healthcare workers and others), A2, A3, A4 (workers who need to go out), and A5 (indigent population) against the highly infectious Covid-19.

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Davao City to ramp up vax from 10,000 to 15,000 doses

Posted: 17 Aug 2021 06:45 AM PDT

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the city will be ramping up its daily vaccination from 10,000 to 15,000 vaccinees per day in order to achieve the targeted herd immunity before the end of this year.

Duterte-Carpio said on Monday, August 16, that the current target number is not enough to reach the city's target of 1.2 million vaccinated residents by December 2021.

"We see man gud sa pagkakaron, although we are able to target 10,000 per day nato, we see it is not fast enough ang 10,000 first doses per day. We need to create more teams para mas mapadaghan nato ang atoang vaccinations, and we'd like to target at least 15,000 first doses per day," Duterte-Carpio said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

The mayor said they are targeting to implement different vaccination strategies, including opening more vaccination sites and sectoral vaccination.

"Ngano kinahanglan nato patas-an atong (Why do we need to increase our) minimum number of first doses per day, it's because nagadali tang tanan nga ma-rollout ang mga bakuna, and mabakunahan kining mga kaigsuunang Dabawenyo because ang pagbakuna or ang fully dosed na individual, less likely siya mahimong severe or critical na case (We need to vaccinate Dabawenyos as fast as we can because those who are fully vaccinated are less likely to become a severe or critical case)," she said.

She added that having more fully vaccinated individuals will prevent overwhelming hospital beds, including those from the intensive care units (ICU).

Duterte-Carpio added that according to health experts, fully vaccinated are those individuals who were able to finish their two shots, except for those vaccinated with the single-shot Johnson & Johnson Jannsen vaccine.

The mayor, however, said this will only be achievable if there will be an ample and stable supply of vaccines in the city.

She also said the city has already written a draft letter to the Department of Health-Davao Region wherein they presented the city's plan on its vaccination program, including the request for "vaccine support to the city."

"Kung ilaha tang tabangan (If they will help us), with regards to supply sa bakuna, makuha nato tanang (we will able to reach and vaccinate all with the) first dose within 2021," the mayor said.

With the recent vaccine arrivals, the mayor ordered the vaccination cluster to immediately roll out the available vaccines.

In terms of manpower, the mayor said the Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) is continuously hiring workers for the staffing even vaccination sites.

The mayor said the city can achieve the 15,000 daily vaccinees by adding seven more vaccination sites set by DOH.

As of August 16, the city has already inoculated 453,424 Dabawenyos for the first dose, and 297,201 for the second dose. This covers priority groups A1 (healthcare workers and others), A2 (senior citizens), A3 (persons with comorbidities), A4 (workers who need to go out) and A5 (indigent population) against the highly infectious coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

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Mandatory swabbing ordinance passed

Posted: 17 Aug 2021 06:45 AM PDT

INDEX Covid-19 cases and close contacts who refuse to be swabbed will be penalized or imprisoned after the 19th City Council passed the mandatory swabbing ordinance on Tuesday, August 17.

The City Council approved on third and final reading "An Ordinance Providing For Mandatory Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) Testing of All F1, F2, and F3 Contacts of an RT-PCR Confirmed Positive Case of Covid-19 in Davao City."

According to the ordinance, the mandatory RT-PCR applies to F0 (confirmed positive), F1 (first-generation contact or those who have close contact with a confirmed positive individual), F2 (second-generation contact or those who have close contact with F1), and F3 (third-generation contact or those who have close contact with F2) within the city.

The ordinance also covers individuals "even if they have left the territorial jurisdiction" of the city.

Section 5 of the ordinance states that all closed contacts will undergo testing, of which the date of testing will be determined by the contact tracing team or the District Health Office.

"If the RT-PCR result of an F1 Contact is positive, all F2 contacts will be elevated to F1 and should be placed under 14 days mandatory quarantine and should be re-tested," it stated.

It also stated that the swab testing shall be given free by the swab centers authorized by the City Health Office.

Section 6, meanwhile, will not require F2 and F3 contacts to undergo mandatory quarantine provided they will not exhibit influenza-like illness (ILI). However, they must self-monitor, continue to observe minimum health protocols, and report for any signs and symptoms.

The ordinance also requires F0 to F3 to disclose their close contacts including their contact numbers and home or work address.

Prohibited acts, penal clause

Section 8 of the ordinance prohibits the refusal of mandatory swabbing, isolation, and quarantine to individuals who were notified.

Those who will refuse to give out accurate information needed for effective contact tracing will also be penalized.

A fine of P5,000 or imprisonment or both at the discretion of the court will be imposed for F0 or F1 contacts who violate the ordinance.

For F2 contacts, P3,000 or imprisonment or both fine and imprisonment will be imposed depending on the court.

F3 contacts who will not comply with the ordinance will be slapped a P500 fine.

In case the ordinance violator is a minor or below 18 years old, his/her parents or legal guardian will be fined or prosecuted.

"Payment of the aforesaid penalty shall not excuse all violators from compliance with the mandatory RT-PCR Testing," the ordinance stated.

Councilor Mabel Acosta, author of the proposed ordinance, lobbied for its enactment since the entire country is under a state of public health emergency and yet some people refused to be tested.

The councilor said the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force passed a resolution to the 19th City Council to enact an ordinance penalizing violators of the mandatory swabbing.

Compared to the national law, she said the penalty is lower, considering that it is stipulated under Republic Act (RA) 7160 or "the Local Government Code of 1991" that ordinances are only limited up to P5,000 maximum penalty.

Citing RA 11332 or the "Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act," Acosta said penalties could range up to P20,000 and imprisonment.

Among the public's misconceptions, she said, is that they refuse to be tested because they do not manifest any influenza-like illness (ILI). She reiterated that having no signs and symptoms of Covid-19 does not guarantee that a person is not a carrier of the virus.

"If you do not cooperate, you are practically... it's a crime to give your virus to other people unya pinahamak mo buong pamilya, buong kapatid mo, buong subdivision, Pilipinas. Ginapasa man nimo. So dapat, kung ma-identify ka, magpa-swab ka (as you are endangering the lives of your family, your brothers and sisters, the entire subdivision, and the entire Philippines. You are transmitting the virus to others. So if you are identified to undergo swabbing, you must cooperate)," Acosta said in a previous interview.

Prior to its enactment, its approval was put on hold on June 29 after the Task Force made some adjustments to its provision.

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120 ROFs from Malaysia arrive in Davao City

Posted: 17 Aug 2021 06:45 AM PDT

A TOTAL of 120 returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) arrived in Davao City from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Monday evening, August 16.

The ROFs arrived around 8:27 p.m. Monday at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport (Davao International Airport).

In a press release, City Tourism Operations Office and Airport Monitoring head Generose Tecson said out of the passengers, 94 were overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and 26 were non-OFWs and their dependents.

Tecson said 24 ROFs were fully vaccinated, while 17 received their first dose of either Sinovac's CoronaVac or Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccines.

The official said passengers will be swabbed on the seventh day from their arrival and will undergo quarantine until August 29. She added they will be allowed to go home on August 30.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) provided the quarantine facilities, swabbing and onward journey of the OFWs.

As part of arrival protocols, the passengers were swabbed 48 hours before the flight and present negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results under City Ordinance 0477-21, Series of 2021 or the Mandatory Testing Prior to Entry into the Davao City via the Davao International Airport.

As part of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), the OFWs and ROFs were required to undergo a 14-day quarantine in Davao City before proceeding to their final destinations.

In the quarantine facility, the returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) are situated on the higher floors. For instance, if the designated hotel has ten floors, only the seventh to the tenth floor shall be occupied by the ROFs.

Tecson also said the city continues to require the mandatory RT-PCR test for travelers going to the city even for fully-vaccinated Filipinos. The test results must be taken within 24 to 72 hours before scheduled arrival.

Amid the recently detected Covid-19 Delta cases in the city, which is now at six, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the city will not be suspending accepting repatriated flights.

Duterte-Carpio previously allayed fears of a potential surge of Covid-19 cases in the city following the recent acceptance of repatriation flights outside the country.

She assured the public that repatriated passengers will undergo a "bubble" arrival process and strict health protocols will be applied for passengers.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, 13 ROFs who arrived in the city tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. Three of the cases were passengers from Dhaka, Bangladesh, and 10 were from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The individuals who tested positive were immediately transferred to the tent city at the Davao International Airport for additional 14-day mandatory isolation. Those who tested negative need to undergo another seven days of quarantine.

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