TWENTY-FIVE city government employees were quarantined following COVID-19 exposure on one public facility.
“We took the 25 individuals and placed them at the isolation facility,” Mayor Sara Duterte said in her regular radio program. “I think three of them have tested positive for COVID-19.”
The local government is already using RT-PCR as the primary testing tool for suspected cases. The mayor also urged the private sector to conduct symptom-screening instead of the rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for their workers.
“Ingon sa studies, by the time nga naga-positive ang rapid test, that will be one week after ka nagkasakit. So, possible nga nakatakod naka within one week bago ka pa man nagpositive sa imong rapid test (According to studies, by the time, that the rapid test will come out positive – that will be one week after you became sick. So, it is possible that you already infected others before your rapid test comes out positive),” she said.
She said employers should not restrict their screening to temperature reading since fever is not the lone symptom of the virus.
“When we say symptom-screening, dili lang kanang temperature check kung naa bay kalintura. I-check ang ilang tutunlan, i-check kung naa bay ubo, sipon (When we say symptom-screening, it is not only the temperature check if they have a fever. It includes checking the throat, and checking if they have a cough and cold),” she added.
According to the City Information Office, employees manifesting either one of the symptoms such as cough and cold, loss of the sense of smell, sore throat, diarrhea, and fever are considered suspects of COVID-19 and should immediately be referred to the company doctor. The doctor should then assess based on DOH protocols whether the employee will undergo a 14-day quarantine, or should be sent for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing.
Police, army personnel ensure brgy. lockdown
Meanwhile, 24 personnel from the Davao City Police Office, 12 members of the Police Auxiliary, and six Task Force Davao soldiers were deployed to ensure that 221 individuals from Purok 8, Kapitan Tomas Monteverde won’t violate the quarantine order.
Col. Kirby John Kraft, DCPO director, said they also tapped the barangay tanods after the community was placed on hard lockdown at 1:30 p.m. on Monday. He said that there are 61 households being monitored in the barangay.
” No one is allowed to go out or go inside, ” he said. ” Initially, three outposts will be established to enforce lockdown. “
” No one is allowed to go out or go inside, ” he said. ” Initially, three outposts will be established to enforce lockdown. “
According to the city government, the lockdown will preempt the possible massive spread of the infection in the area due to confirmed positive cases. Around 65 individuals were evacuated and brought to a temporary treatment and monitoring facility (TTMF) after RT-PCR test showed they were positive of Covid-19.
Meanwhile, the city government advised everyone to avoid Barangay Kapitan Tomas Monteverde.
With reports from the City Information Office
With reports from the City Information Office
