THE CITY government is set to implement home isolation for mild and asymptomatic patients to prevent the further surge of COVID-19 cases in hospitals and the Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities (TTMF).
In an interview during her weekly program over the Davao City Disaster Radio on Monday, Mayor Sara Duterte said the city will soon release the guidelines for home isolation in order not to overwhelm the health system.
Duterte was concerned over the surge and the full capacity situation of the hospitals and the TTMF and the shortage of oxygen supplies, thus, a home isolation option can address the issues.
“Based sa discussion with the Department of Health, Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) and private hospitals, it was very clear that we are on a surge, puno ang atong hospitals and there is a shortage of oxygen, atong Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities (TTMFs), as well puno sila sa bed spaces na available, so base sa DOH ug Department of Interior and Local Government orders on isolation we are already preparing that guide for home isolation (Based on discussion with the Department of Health (DOH), Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) and private hospitals it was very clear that we are on a surge. Our hospitals are full and there is a shortage of oxygen. Our TTMFs as well are full and there are no bed spaces available. So based on DOH and DILG orders on isolation we are already preparing that guide on home isolation),” the mayor said.
She added that it is only a matter of time for the guidelines to be released to the public.
“It only needs to be released to the public gibuhat na siya sa health group of the response cluster of the COVID-19 Task Force, so i-release nalang nato ni siya sa public. Nag-istorya na sila with our district health offices unsaon mag manage ug home isolation (It only needs to be released publicly, the Health Group of the Response Cluster of COVID-19 Task Force already drafted it, so it only needs to be released to the public. The health group has already reached out with district offices on how to manage the home isolation),” the mayor said.
The mayor said the home isolation plus a lockdown can be done only for mild and asymptomatic cases.
“Dili pwede mugawas ang tao nga naa sa sulod because one naa na na sa inyoha ang positive case, taas kayo chances nga magtakdanay (The individual positive of COVID will not be allowed to go because there is a high chance of transmission ),” she said.
Besides the home isolation, the mayor said the city has resumed the operation of the care for patients awaiting transfer (CPAT) wherein those who cannot be catered in the TTMFs and isolation areas are managed in their households.
“Gina-manage nato sila sa balay ginahatagan nato sila ug CPAT kit ug naa didto ang instructions unsa ang gikinahanglan niya, unsa iyang himuon sulod sa balay (We are managing them, we are giving them CPAT kits with instructions on what to do while staying at home while in the said condition),” she said.
The mayor said the city also approved the home care programs of the Davao Doctors Hospital that are done to extend care to patients who cannot be accommodated in the hospitals. As of September 11, 2021, Davao City has 8,521 active cases of which the majority are asymptomatic and mild cases.
