Of the 468 swabbed individuals on April 7, about three percent of them are positive of the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the coronavirus disease.
The City Health Office (CHO) has conducted surveillance swabbing in some establishments along Ramon Magsaysay Avenue, Calinan, and Agdao public markets as part of the implementation of the heightened surveillance and response of COVID-19 cases in Davao City under Executive Order No. 18.
“When we had the surveillance swabbing at Agdao Public Market, we swabbed 468 people of which 3% turned out positive,” Lopez said.
The CHO is still waiting for the results for the other areas.
Lopez also said that the heightened surveillance and response of COVID-19 cases is important to stop the rising of COVID-19 cases and prevent the entering of other COVID-19 variants in the city.
“In a time when another opportunity comes when we are going to have another surge, it will not be difficult for us to track down and control. The most effective strategy when you’re going to map out all remaining cases is to do surveillance,” he said.
According to EO 18, the surveillance will include tracking down influenza-like illnesses (ILI), an acute respiratory infection with a fever of more than 38 degrees Celsius and cough with onset within the last ten (10) days, and referring them for swabbing. The surveillance will be facility-based, community-based, and establishment-based.
“Majority, 70 to 80 percent of cases are asymptomatic. That means there are asymptomatic carriers that are roaming around. There are people somewhere who do not have symptoms while some have a simple cough, colds who refuse to have themselves checked, and later on, we know that they are carriers. These are the persons that we are trying to catch,” Lopez said.
The COVID-19 Task Force Focal Person also urged Dabawenyos to cooperate and not hesitate to participate if there are surveillance activities in their area.
“Dapat dili sila mobalibad. Dapat mo-kooperar tang tanan because ang atoang ginabuhat (they should not refuse [the test]. Everybody should cooperate because what we are doing) ultimately is to zero COVID-19 cases in Davao City,” he said. CIO
