By Armando Fenequito Jr.
DAVAO CITY – The Davao de Oro government will still study its shift to general community quarantine (GCQ) from enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), following the announcement of the Inter-agency Task Force on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) of the national government that excluded the province from the list of high-risk areas for coronavirus infection.
Governor Jayvee Tryon Uy said, in a statement on Tuesday night, he will still need to seek advise coming from the epidemiologists before lifting the ECQ even if after the IATF already made its pronouncement that the province can now proceed to shift to GCQ.
Uy said he will call a meeting with the members of their provincial task force on April 30, to discuss this matter on what should be done in the province.
“Kung ako lang, aduna nako’y desisyon pero mas maayong sigurong paminawon nako mong tanan, ang mga eksperto, ug daghan pang tao para mauyunan sa tanan ang sunod nato lakang (I already had a decision but it is better to listen to the experts first and other people so that we can agree to our next step),”. he said.
He said he was considering the scientific evidence, considering that the province recorded a COVID-19 positive patient was last April 7.
And because of this, the local government may need to implement another ECQ for two incubation periods, which is equivalent to 28 days.
“Kung paminawon nato ang sugyot sa mga doktor nga mao’y pinalabi natong tingog karong panahona, mulungtad hangtod May 5 bag-o mahuman ang atong duha ka incubation cycles (If we listen to the suggestion of the doctors that which is being considered nowadays, this two incubation cycles will last up to May 5),” he said.
“We want this to be right, and to be a collective decision because what is at stake here is our lives, health, well-being, safety, security, and livelihood,” he said.
Uy said he asked the understanding of the public if they could not decide immediately because the lives of every person was at stake.
The governor said he assured his constituents that whatever decision that will be be bared on Thursday will be for the good of every people since that was his priority.
“Sa pagkakaron, hangyo nako nga tumanon usa nato tanang health protocols- mutuman sa social distancing, maghugas sa kamot, dili usa mugawas sa balay, ug maminaw sa tama ug lehitimong impormasyon (For now, I am urging you to follow all our health protocols such as social distancing, frequent handwashing, refraing from going outside of their houses and listen to the right and legitimate information)," he said.