AS Covid-19 cases in Davao City continue to decline, the city government had to reduce manpower and closed some of its Covid-19 facilities due to budget constraints in addressing the pandemic.
Davao City Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser said in a radio interview Wednesday, January 4, that with the improvement of the Covid-19 case management in the city, fewer hospital beds are being utilized.
This resulted in a reduction of staffing, including contact tracers.
“It’s really heartbreaking na we have to let go of people. Diri sa Davao City kasi, Covid-19 becomes manageable. Unlike before, lisod gyud to siya without the manpower, lisod i-implement ang mga strategies that we have been implementing,” Schlosser said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
She said from 867 contact tracers, the city retained less than 60 and are deployed to the city’s 18 district health centers. A district with less than 100,000 residents will have one contact tracer, two with 100,000 or more residents, three with 150,000 or more residents, and four with 200,000 or more residents.
The official said the Task Force had to trim down its personnel responding to Covid-19 due to budget constraints with the possible lifting of the state of a public health emergency.
In a recent interview, Schlosser said the city’s budget for the Covid-19 response is dependent on the allocation provided by the public health emergency and state of calamity.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had earlier announced that he is not keen on extending the state of calamity. Thus, Schlosser said that this would have a huge impact on the city’s Covid-19 management and response, including the purchasing of Covid-19 vaccines.
Schlosser also revealed in a recent interview that they had to close down the city’s Covid-19 Cluster Clinics, which serve as a one-stop-shop for contact tracing and consultations for those who are manifesting Covid-19 symptoms. It is also where the swabbing, quarantine, and reintegration of recovered individuals are facilitated.
“It’s futile, di pa magamit karon kay gamay pa ang cases (it can’t be used now because there are still few cases),” she said.
Schlosser explained it would deplete the city government’s funds to keep paying for people and the facilities even without the need for them.
But she said the city will be reopening another Cluster Clinic facility and other Covid-19-related facilities in case of a surge or in case there is a need for it to be opened.
For now, she said some district health offices have barangay quarantine facilities, and the tent city located at the Davao International Airport (Francisco Bangoy International Airport) will remain operational. The city health official said home isolation is also allowed for those who meet the requirements.
Despite the changes in the city’s Covid-19 management strategies, she clarified that the Covid-19 Task Force is still around considering there is still a pandemic.
But she said the body, unlike in the previous where they conduct a weekly meeting every Monday, only convenes in times of surge or any anticipated problems related to the pandemic.
One of the city’s main focuses is strengthening its vaccination rollout, which had highly contributed to the improvement of the Covid-19 situation.
“Since we have started our vaccination activity, we have noticed the effect [in the] hospital rate. Maong emphasize gyud ta sa importansya sa pagpamakuna,” the spokesperson said.
Schlosser earlier announced that the city’s vaccination rollout already underwent transition, wherein its vaccination will now be handled by the barangay and in the district health offices. Although the city will be opening special vaccination hubs in areas like People’s Park during weekends.
As of 8 a.m., January 3, 2023, Davao City logged 94 cases for the past 14 days to keep its low positivity rate. RGL