New virus infections in Davao City surge by 183%

DAVAO CITY—President Rodrigo Duterte’s hometown, Davao City, reverted to a general community quarantine for 11 days starting Nov. 20 as COVID-19 infections surged by 183 percent in 50 days.

Local cardiologist Bernard Chiew said the city was effective in controlling the spread of the coronavirus from March to September this year.

“By design, SPMC (Southern Philippines Medical Center) was the only designated COVID hospital, supported by many isolation centers around the city. And we were OK … until now,” Chiew said, adding that cases began to spiral starting October.

From Sept. 30 to Nov. 19, the number of confirmed cases in the city ballooned from 1,953 to 5,520, or an increase of 183 percent.

The mortality rate likewise soared to 214 percent, from 78 deaths to 245 deaths.

Health workers, who asked for anonymity, told the Inquirer that the situation on the ground was far worse because SPMC was nearing full capacity.

Patients have to wait for about two to three days in temporary isolation units outside the hospital, before SPMC can admit them.

Mayor Sara Duterte rejected calls for a two-week lockdown but heightened restrictions on the city’s borders and launched a QR code system to improve contact tracing.

On Friday, the Department of Health reported 1,639 new cases, bringing the national caseload to 415,067.

Davao City reported the most number of new infections at 113, followed by Laguna (76), Quezon City (75), Rizal (75) and Cavite (63).

Another 305 patients have recovered from COVID-19, pushing the total survivors to 375,237. The death toll, however, breached the 8,000 mark to hit 8,025 after 27 patients died.

The recoveries and deaths left the country with 31,805 active cases. —WITH A REPORT FROM JOVIC YEE