Covid vax pushed with new Davao mask rules

THE City Government of Davao through the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force is intensifying its campaign to get people inoculated against Covid-19.

This, following Wednesday’s issuance of Executive Order 43, allowing the voluntary wearing of masks in open spaces.

Despite the loose mask protocol, the city’s health sector remains on guard, maintains its rigorous campaign on minimum public health practices, and continues to conduct free testing on suspected cases and close contacts.

The Davao City Covid-19 Task Force has also ramped up its drive to vaccinate citizens. Covid-19 Task Force spokesman Dr. Michelle Schlosser, during the Covid-19 Alert program aired over the Davao City Disaster Radio on Wednesday, said that given the accessibility of the vaccine, Davao City’s active Covid cases should be much lower, while fatalities due to the virus should be closer to zero.

This, Schlosser said, is not the case as many still refused to get jabbed. Just last September 11 to 17, the city reported 436 new cases, which is slightly lower than the 516 new ones (equal to a 15 percent positivity rate) reported from September 4 to 10.

“Lately, the positivity rate fell to 10 percent daily. However, this does not mean that we no longer have an enemy, that it is okay, that we do not have to be on alert anymore because there are still several deaths because of Covid,” Schlosser said. A total of 16 deaths because of the virus were reported last week; 7 were senior citizens while 4 belonged to the 50-59 age bracket. Two child deaths were also reported — one below the age of five, the other below 12. Of the 16 fatalities, 9 were unvaccinated.

Schlosser said getting vaccinated gives people the best chance at combating the virus once infected, and is therefore indispensable in preventing Covid deaths.

The task force’s vaccination cluster will continue to deploy teams to vaccination hubs in district and village health centers and mobile vaccination sites, Schlosser said, urging anew all Davaoeños to make the time to avail themselves of the free shots.

“We have Saturday and Sunday vaccination, so I hope citizens will no longer use work as an excuse not to get inoculated,” Schlosser said. Weekend vaccinations at the Davao City People’s Park, in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross, will remain open on all weekends of September and will cater to clients ages 5 and older. It is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.