Do not ban entry of residents from COVID-19 hotspots: Sara
MAYOR Sara Duterte warned establishments against discriminating residents and workers coming from COVID-19 hotspots or high-risk areas.
She said that denying these workers and residents entry into their workplaces on account of their address is not a guarantee that the establishments will be free from the coronavirus transmission.
Her reminder came in the wake of several complaints City Hall received from netizens who reportedly experienced discrimination from establishments who immediately shut them out after knowing where they live.
The city government has released a COVID-19 risk assessment map, which demarcates barangays according to several categories–from very high-risk, high-risk, moderate risk, and low risk. To date, only Barangay 23-C has been placed on a hard lockdown due to the sheer number of cases.
The mayor reminded owners that the map is only to guide people to avoid these areas and not a license to discriminate people.
“Kanang pag-exclude nato sa mga tao nga nagpuyo sa mga very high-risk ug high-risk nga barangays will not solve the problem na basin ma contaminate or masudlan mo og confirmed COVID-19 nga positive cases kay ang inyohang screening, gidepende ninyo sa address (Excluding people living in very high risk and high-risk barangays will not solve the problem of possible contamination of a confirmed COVID-19 positive case because you depended your screening on the address)” Mayor Sara stressed during a live interview over Davao City Disaster Radio on Monday.
“Dapat ang screening, magdepende sa inyohang health protocol in place dinha sa sulod (The screening should depend on the health protocol in place inside the establishment),” she added.
The mayor said it is unfair for establishments to ban the entry of residents in very high-risk areas since there are also positive cases coming from barangays that are not classified as critical zones.
She reiterated the importance of imposing health measures upon entry, such as temperature check, symptom screening, establishing a handwashing facility, providing alcohol and footbath, and practice social distancing while inside the establishment.
“That way, you are protected, (including) your establishment and, of course, your employees,” she further said.
She said the release of barangay classification was intended to guide residents only when they move around the city to allow them to observe extreme precautions while they are inside these barangays.
“The publication of risk assessment, we use that to guide the general public on their travel and movement within our city. As I said, we do not prohibit people from entering ‘very high risk’ areas and ‘high risk’ areas. The list is not to be taken as a basis for denying people from ‘very high risk’ areas and ‘high risk’ areas of entry,” she said.
As of July 5, Barangays 23-C, Agdao Proper, and Leon Garcia are classified “very high risk” areas while adjacent Barangays 15-B, 26-C, and Tomas Monteverde are “high risk.” Other “high risk” areas Barangays 5-A, Bucana, Buhangin Proper, Maa, Matina Aplaya, and Matina Crossing.
As of July 7, Department of Health-Davao reported a total of 614 cases, with 33 deaths and 399 recoveries. Of the total cases, 463 are in Davao City, 57 in Davao del Norte, 25 in Davao del Sur, 33 in Davao de Oro, 32 in Davao Oriental, and four in Davao Occidental. With reports from MindaNews
