DAVAO CITY – Following the pronouncement of the Malacañang to keep Davao City in general community quarantine (GCQ) for the entire month of February, the city government of Davao has extended the 24/7 ban on selling of alcoholic beverages until March 31.
In an executive order (EO) issued on Friday, January 29, Mayor Sara Duterte said the extension of the ban was considered as one of the measures to regulate some activities that can contribute to local transmission, hoping to “prevent the exposure of individuals to the COVID-19 virus by reason of their unbridled drinking sessions.”
She added that the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) reported a high occupancy rate due to the new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), necessitating the extension of the liquor ban.
The SPMC reported that 97.37 percent of the 342 COVID-19 ward beds have been occupied, while its 34-bed intensive care unit has been fully occupied, as of January 27.
The government-run hospital caters to moderate, critical, and severe COVID-19 patients, while mild-symptomatic and asymptomatic are referred to the Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities (TTMFs).
As of January 28, the Department of Health (DOH) Davao reported 218 new cases, bringing the total to 16,883 with 2,703 active, 13,495 recoveries, and 685 deaths.
Out of the total, Davao City reported 11,426, with 1,561 active, 9,328 recoveries, and 537 deaths. Davao de Oro reported 882, Davao del Norte with 2,373, Davao del Sur with 1,197, Davao Occidental with 190, and Davao Oriental with 815.