DAVAO CITY – The Department of Health (DOH)-Davao Region logged 124 new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases over the last two days with 76 reported on Thursday that was the highest single-day increase since March.
In a report released by DOH-Davao, 98 of these new cases were local transmissions, 14 locally stranded individuals (LSIs), two returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs), and 10 which are still up for verification.
Davao City reported 102 new cases over the last two days, Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur with seven each, and Davao de Oriental and Davao de Oro with four each.
From March 15 until August 28, the total number of cases in the city already reached 1,342, the highest in Mindanao, making it the center of the COVID-19 outbreak on the island.
Also, the total cases in Davao del Norte had reached 218, Davao Oriental 195, Davao de Oro 159, Davao del Sur 109, and Davao Occidental 40,
As of August 28, the DOH-Davao also reported that a total of 57,265 specimens were processed in Southern Philippines Medical Center, Davao Region Medical Center, and One World Diagnostic Center.
Despite the reported surge in the COVID-19 cases here, Mayor Sara Duterte said, in her interview over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5), that the city would remain under a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) from September 1 to 30.
The entire city was placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from April 4 to May 15, general community quarantine (GCQ) from May 16 until June 30, and MGCQ beginning last July 1.
She reiterated her appeal to the Dabawenyos, including the offices and establishments, to strictly follow the basic health protocols, to slow down the transmission of COVID-19 infection in the city.
“What we want the people to do is for them to police themselves. Although we are trying to open our city, you still need to observe quarantine, and then number 2, health protocols. It’s important to wear a mask, observe distancing, and frequent hand washing. We need to help each other by following these health protocols when we go out,” she said.
She said that the city might revert to ECQ once the surge becomes unmanageable.