THE provincial governments of Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro will continue to implement the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until May 15.
This despite the Inter-Agency Task Force for the management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) bared on Monday evening, April 27, the removal of the two provinces under the list of areas whose ECQ must be extended until May 15.
Davao del Norte first announced on Wednesday evening, April 29, that the entire province except Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) would have an extended ECQ, after Tagum City reported its first coronavirus (Covid-19) death.
In an official statement, the city said the victim, who died on Tuesday, is from Barangay Visayan Village. It added that a close contact tracing has been conducted immediately.
“Nahimong lisod ang contact tracing sa maong pasyente sanglit wala kini nakahatag ug mga impormasyon tungod kay na-stroke kini (There was an issue in the contact tracing since the patient was not able to disclose any information due to stroke),” the city government said in a statement.
The Tagum City government added that the previously issued ECQ guidelines would still be implemented.
Meanwhile, Davao de Oro announced on Thursday, April 30, the extension of the ECQ in the province.
In an issued statement, the decision was made by the Davao de Oro Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force for Covid-19.
The provincial government also said that both previously issued executive orders would still take effect. However, they would still release a new executive order regarding the extended ECQ, and its details within the day.
Davao de Oro Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy said the ECQ extension was based on “scientific evidences” to ensure that there will be no resurgence of Covid-19cases in the province. He said the last Covid-19 case recorded in the province was last April 7.
“Aron makasiguro nga wala o gamay na lang ang tsansa nga aduna’y virus ang usa ka lugar, kinahanglan nga mupasar kini sa duha (2) ka incubation cycles. Ang usa ka incubation cycle mulungtad og katorse (14) ka adlaw, ang duha ka hugnaan kay baynte-otso (28) ka adlaw. [sic] (To ensure that there is a zero or slight chance of the re-emergence of the disease in a certain area, there is a need for it to pass the two incubation cycles totaling 28 days. One cycle would be for 14 days, while another 14 days is needed for the second cycle),” Uy said in an official statement posted on his Facebook page.
According to him, based on the recommendation of the doctor, the two cycles would be until May 5.
Initially, he planned to extend the ECQ until May 7. However, due to a confirmed Covid-19 positive patient in Tagum City, he said they will extend it to May 15, which was originally planned.
“We take calculated risks and we say, early lifting of the ECQ is a risk not worth taking,” Uy said.
The governor added that they are going to strengthen their case finding efforts within the communities to ensure there won’t be a second wave of the infection. He added they are also going to conduct a case-finding if the recently deceased patient had exposure to residents in Davao de Oro.
Meanwhile, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, and Davao Occidental will be placed under general community quarantine (GCQ).
Under GCQ, according to the IATF-EID, public transportation would resume at reduced capacity, some workers would be allowed to work, and some establishments would partially open but subject to minimum health standards.
Earlier, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who is the Regional Covid-19 Task Force chairperson, expressed concern over putting neighboring areas in under GCQ.
She pointed out that with more people being able to move around under the GCQ, this could potentially cause another wave of confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). As a result, this could put stress on the local health system.
“Expected na ma-overwhelm ang SPMC because there are other areas in the region nga dili na sila ECQ, meaning libre na sila mag-tuyok-tuyok sa ilang lugar in a general community quarantine set-up (We expect that SPMC may be overwhelmed as people will not be allowed to go around under the GCQ),” the mayor said in a radio interview on Tuesday, April 28.
The mayor said lifting ECQ is also a risk considering that not many will observe proper health measures.
“Sigurado ko sa pag lift sa atoang quarantine (ECQ), aduna gihapon mga tao nga dili gyud makasunod kung unsa ang mga distancing rules, mask rules… naa gyud daghan matakdan (I am certain that once we lift the ECQ, there are still those who will not follow health measures like social distancing and wearing of masks. People will still get infected),” Duterte-Carpio said.
Uy said this was also considered in his decision.
Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib, as of Thursday, has not released a statement regarding the ECQ extension in the province.
Under ECQ:
Davao City
Davao del Norte (Except Samal Island)
Davao de Oro
Under GCQ:
Davao Oriental
Davao del Sur
Davao Occidental