FEWER CASES. A woman in Davao City gets vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 in this undated photo. The city has recorded fewer Covid-19 cases in the second week of February, with 147 recoveries as of Wednesday (Feb. 16, 2022), outnumbering the 94 recorded new cases. (Photo courtesy of Davao CIO)
DAVAO CITY — The Department of Health in the Davao Region (DOH -11) announced that 147 more coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases have recovered in Davao City, outnumbering the new cases in the city as of Wednesday.
In its latest bulletin, the DOH-11 said total recoveries went up to 68,775 after 147 more patients have recovered from the disease. In contrast, 94 new cases were recorded, bringing the total Covid-19 cases in the city to 993 since the pandemic was declared in 2020.
Throughout the region, active cases have gone down to 5,672, or 4.2 percent of the total 133,772 cumulative cases in the region.
“We are very thankful that the cases are now down.... We are also still observing its continuous decrease,” Dr. Michelle Schlosser, the DOH-11 medical health officer, said in a virtual interview via the Davao City Disaster Radio.
The DOH-11 official said Davao City has now completed the vaccination of 85.14 percent of its total population which is over 1.6 million.
“Previously, we were just targeting to vaccinate to get population immunity but now our goal is to vaccinate the total population,” Schlosser said, adding that booster shots for those who have completed their vaccinations are equally necessary.
“We are also strengthening our campaign for the people to get booster shots. It is an additional layer of protection, 25 percent folds of additional protection against the infection and severity of the disease,” she added.
Alert 2
Meanwhile, from Feb. 16 to 28, 2022, the city will be under Alert Level 2.
Areas under Alert Level 2 have low transmission and decreasing Covid-19 cases, low healthcare utilization, or case counts are low but increasing, or case counts are low and decreasing but total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate is increasing.
According to DOH, under Alert Level 2, establishments or activities shall be allowed to operate or be undertaken at a maximum of 50 percent indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals and those below 18 years of age, even if unvaccinated, and 70 percent outdoor venue capacity.
“Provided that all workers/employees of these establishments are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and minimum public health standards shall be strictly maintained. Provided further, that there is no objection from the LGU where these activities may take place,” the agency said.
Venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions, permitted social events, visitor or tourist attractions, amusement parks or theme parks, recreational venues, cinema, and movie houses are allowed.
Also permitted are dine-in services of food preparation such as kiosks, commissaries, restaurants, and eateries, subject to Department of Trade and Industry sector-specific protocols.
On the other hand, there is still limited face-to-face or in-person classes for basic education subject to prior approval of the Office of the President; limited face-to-face or in-person classes for higher education and technical-vocational education and training; in-person religious gatherings; gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals for those who died of causes other than Covid-19 and for the cremains of the Covid-19 deceased are also allowed. (PNA)
