Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte issued an Executive Order Sunday night, March 15, 2020, for a partial lockdown of Lasang checkpoint in Davao City on top of placing the city under community quarantine.
Davao health officials also confirmed on March 15, 2020, the first case of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the Davao region.
Both Tagum City Mayor Allan Rellor and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte ordered a partial lockdown on all entry and exit points effect 7 p.m. of March 15, 2020, for the two local government units.
- All public and private vehicles from Tagum City are prohibited from entering Davao City;
- All vehicles from Tagum that will pass through Davao City while en route to their final destination will be escorted in groups to the border checkpoint where they will exit. This will only be allowed within 24 hours from the effectivity of Duterte’s Executive Order. (valid ID is required for verification);
- After 24 hours from the effectivity of the EO, no vehicles (public or private) that came from Tagum City will be allowed to pass thru Davao City anymore;
- Inspection of IDs of workers working in Davao City but go home outside the city will be conducted. Residents of Tagum City who are working in Davao City will not be allowed to enter Davao City;
- Supply chain vehicles/delivery vehicles are allowed entry to Davao City. Driver and helper will be subjected to temperature checks. The driver and helper of supply chain vehicles/delivery vehicles are not allowed to leave their vehicles while loading/unloading is being done inside Davao City.
- Emergency vehicles are authorized to pass thru/enter Davao City;
- Roadblocks will be established after 24 hours upon the effectivity of the EO;
- Passengers and drivers of exempted vehicles will be subjected to temperature checks before entering Davao City.
- Patients needing their dialysis, chemotherapy, rehabilitation, and other similar services of any Davao Hospital must show proof (receipt, doctor’s request, medical certificate, and other proof) of this medical service that they are receiving;
- Other essential movements not covered in the listed exemptions may be allowed with clearance from the TF Covid Command center.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health Davao Center for Health Development (DCHD), in a statement, assured the public that all necessary containment measures are being implemented to prevent local transmission of the virus.
The Department of Health (DOH) reported one additional death from Covid-19 at 10:30 p.m. Sunday bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 12. As of 4 p.m. Sunday the country has now 140 Covid-19 cases.
The 21-year-old female patient arrived in the country from the United Kingdom via Doha, Qatar to Manila in Davao on Feb. 29, 2020.
On March 9, 2020, the patient sought medical helo due to cough and she was immediately isolated.
The patient is currently stable and is now in isolation in a referral hospital since March 10, 2020.
Health authorities are now closely monitoring the hospital where the patient was admitted and for the people, she interacted with.
DCHD is requesting those who will be identified as close contacts to the confirmed case to fully cooperate and provide necessary information for proper management and facilitation.
The DCHD reported that as of Sunday, 50 patients under investigation (PUI) are recorded, more than half or 29 patients were already discharged while 21 are admitted in two government hospitals.
“We assure the public that the Department of Health is on top of the situation. We have activated our Incident Command System and Rapid Response Team to appropriate management, including increased infection control, case management and containment to prevent the spread of the virus,” DOH Regional Director Annabelle P. Yumang said.
She urged the public to stay calm and remain vigilant at all times. Let us continue to practice proper handwashing, social distancing, and cough etiquette.
“We also appeal to everyone to refrain from sharing unverified information and obtain information only from verified sources such as the Department of Health official website and social media accounts. Let us continue doing our part in containing the disease,” Yuman stressed.
