DAVAO CITY — Tagum City Mayor Allan L. Rellon has ordered the closure of the city’s wet and dry market for seven days starting today September 8, after a fish vendor was tested positive for Coronavirus-19.
In an interview with Newsline.ph, Rellon said, “We decided to close because we need to decontaminate the market as we conduct massive contact tracing, we cannot let our guards down”.
The market will be closed until September 14.
Rellon revealed that the 50-year-old patient owns stall number 572 in the fish section and a resident of Visayan VIllage, has a travel history to Mangagoy Surigao del Sur and Tagum City market.
She went to Rivera hospital on September 5 due to fever and cough but was immediately referred to Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) where a test was conducted immediately, the result was released on September 6.
Rellon said the closure was recommended by City Health Officer Dr. Arnel Florendo, who also heads the crisis management response support group of the city.
In a video message, Florendo said the need to decontaminate the market where the patient was exposed is a must to avoid the spread of the virus.
Rellon rallied for the support of all Tagumeños and all health stakeholders to cooperate while the disinfection of the market and close contact tracing is ongoing.
Rellon called on the market-goers from August 20 to September 6, to monitor their health and go for self-quarantine and those who manifest signs like couch, fever, runny nose, and colds to immediately inform the Covid-19 hotline of the city government which is posted on their officials Facebook account.
In the meantime, Rellon urged his constituents to buy their supplies in supermarkets and or make an order online.
“We need to keep the economy going and provide food for the people, but we must implement stringent measures to prevent the spread of the virus is which just around us,” he added.
Those who used to buy their food through ambulant vendors need to be more cautious as the city government is tracing the positive close contacts of the patient.-Editha Z. Caduaya/Newsline.ph
