Davao residents urged: Get tested

DAVAO CITY — Following the celebration of the Kadayawan festivities here, health authorities are urging residents to get tested and vaccinated to avoid a possible new surge of coronavirus disease 2019 cases.

Davao City Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser said that they will monitor in the next two weeks if they will log an increase in Covid-19 cases to verify if the festivities have caused a surge in infections.

To recall, the city held on 15 to 21 August its first face-to-face Kadayawan Festival and health authorities said that as of 21 August, the city had 620 cases, including 54 new cases, with a positivity rate of 13.8 percent as 54 of the 391 swabbed individuals tested positive for Covid-19.

“We have been averaging a positivity rate of 13. That is still higher than our normal or acceptable positivity rate,” Schlosser said, adding that vaccination and booster shots provide another layer of protection from the severe type of Covid-19 that may result in death.

Schlosser also said they have observed a fast turnaround of recoveries, especially for fully vaccinated Covid-19 patients and reminded Dabawenyos to avail of the city’s free swab services at the Toril District Health Office, Crocodile Park Drive-Thru Site, Covid-19 Cluster Clinic 1-Sta. Ana Health Center, and the CCC 3-Talomo River.

The CCCs are one-stop shops that conduct contact tracing, swabbing, quarantine and isolation and teleconsultation.

“I am urging closed contacts and those manifesting influenza-like symptoms to be tested to help break the chain of transmission and protect their loved ones and workmates from Covid-19 infection,” Schlosser said.

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