DOH: IATF eyeing additional restrictions for Davao City

(FILE) DRIVE-THROUGH A public utility jeepney driver gets a swab test at a drive-through testing center set up inside Crocodile Park in Davao City. —BING GONZALES

MANILA, Philippines — The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) is mulling additional restrictions that could be imposed in Davao City amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

Health Undersecretary and spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said Friday that Davao City is still under a moderate risk for COVID-19 cases and hospital utilization but a continuous increase of infection has been observed in the city.

“We are trying to prevent this (further increase) from happening by providing assistance. Mayroon na ring pinag-usapan sa IATF na additional restrictions na pwede nating ibigay sa kanila,” she told ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.

(The IATF is discussing additional restrictions that could be enforced)

As of Thursday, Davao City has recorded 1,531 active COVID-19 cases, according to the DOH tracker.

The Davao City government earlier appealed to the IATF to place the city under modified enhanced community quarantine so it could deal with the increase of infections. The city is currently under general community quarantine.

Meanwhile, Vergeire added that hospitals in Zamboanga City are reaching full capacity amid the increasing number of coronavirus cases in the city.

“Dito sa Mindanao nakikita po natin ang pagtaas, katulad ng Zamboanga. Ang Zamboanga, aside from the increasing number of cases, their hospitals are getting full kaya binibigyan po natin talaga ng utmost assistance,” she added.

(We are seeing an increase in cases in Mindanao. First is Zamboanga. Aside from the increasing number of cases, their hospitals are getting full so we are giving them utmost assistance.)

According to the DOH tracker,  Zamboanga City has 804 active COVID-19 cases as of Thursday.

/MUF