IN LIGHT of the recent discovery of new Covid-19 variants in some parts of the country, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the city can expect a "second wave" of Covid-19 cases in the next two to three months if minimum health protocols will not be observed and if the city relaxes some of its regulations.
"Kung dili ta mag-istrikto sa atoang minimum public health standards, ug atoang i-open at this point atong city, meaning tanggalon nato atong (If we do not strictly follow the minimum health standards and we further open the city, meaning lifting the) curfew, liquor ban, alternative working arrangements, and all other health protocols or regulations nga gina-implement sa pagkakaron (that we are implementing now), most likely we can expect sa second wave of surge," Duterte-Carpio said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio on Monday, March 8, 2021.
The mayor cited the surge of Covid-19 cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Cebu City, which were reportedly linked to the detection of new Covid-19 variants, including the UK and South African variants.
The new variants, according to health experts, are highly infectious and can transmit faster than the ancestral variant.
She said those places with rising Covid-19 cases will most likely bring the virus to other areas. This means that the rising cases in Manila and Cebu will eventually affect Davao City too.
"Since nagadaghan sila didto and because of travel, muabot napud na dinhi sa atoa. Always kung unsa tong lugar nga daghan ang cases (As cases in these areas rise, it could also be brought here in Davao City because of travel. Wherever there are a high number of cases), that will be the source of the virus," the mayor said.
Meanwhile, in a posted video message on the City Government of Davao Facebook page on Tuesday, March 9, Duterte-Carpio said the city continues to experience a downtrend of Covid-19 cases and health workers had a respite brought about it.
The mayor, however, warned that the new variants that have been detected in some parts of the country are another contributory factor for the possible "second wave" of cases in the city.
"The new variants of Covid-19 will drown us in the second wave," she said.
According to the Department of Health, 62 cases have been detected with the UK variant in the country. This includes a 10-year-old boy in Davao City who was asymptomatic, and had fully recovered. Meanwhile, 58 cases of the South African variant were recorded in the country.
Despite the current downtrend, the mayor urged the public to comply with the set minimum health protocols such as wearing of face masks and face shields, frequent hand washing, and physical distancing.
"Like what happened in July and August last year, we become happier and complacent. Many of us think it is now safe but we have to always keep in mind that in a pandemic, safe will never happen," Duterte-Carpio said.
The mayor referred to the time when the city was placed under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) when cases surged by mid-October due to the lowered restrictions imposed during the period of July until mid-November last year.
"The rising cases in Manila and Cebu will definitely affect us if we repeat the mistakes we have committed last year," she said.
Duterte-Carpio also emphasized the observance of health protocols even after getting the Covid-19 vaccine because the vaccines does not take effect immediately.
