DAVAO CITY - The city government of Tagum announced the temporary closure of the Tagum City Public Market starting Tuesday, September 8, after a stall owner in the market’s fish section was found positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In a recorded video message released by the city government on Monday night, Mayor Allan Rellon announced that the market will be closed to the public until September 14 based on the recommendation of City Health Officer Dr. Arnel Florendo.
Florendo also heads the city’s Crisis Management Response Support Group. Rellon said the public market will undergo decontamination.
He said the stall owner was among those who tested positive for COVID-19 on September 6. Rellon said the patient was a 50-year-old woman from Barangay Visayan Village who showed symptoms of the disease.
He said the patient is currently admitted at the Davao Regional Medical Center in Barangay Apokon, Tagum City in Davao del Norte province.
“Her exposure is still being investigated by the City Task Force,” Rellon said in the vernacular.
Rellon added that the patient had travel history in Barangay Mangagoy in Bislig City and Tagum City because she was a fish trader.
“To ensure the safety of the public, we need to decontaminate our market. We also encourage all market goers who went there last August 20 until September 6 to monitor yourselves and voluntarily impose self-quarantine,” Rellon said.
He said those who will experience symptoms should immediately inform health authorities.
The province of Davao del Norte currently has 72 active cases of COVID-19 based on the Regional Case Bulletin of the Department of Health Davao Region on September 7.