DAVAO CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) – Davao Region reports 139 new cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the region bringing the region’s total number of active cases to 2,185.

Of these new cases, 107 are from Davao City, the second most number of new cases reported next only to Cavite’s 122.
 
Meanwhile, Davao del Norte reported 19 new cases, 10 from Davao del Sur, two from Davao de Oro, and one from Davao Oriental. All new cases were identified as local transmission cases.

The five new Covid-19 fatalities all came from Davao City.
The region also has 80 new recoveries for the day. Among these, 31 are from Davao del Sur, 29 are from Davao City, nine are from Davao Oriental, seven are from Davao del Norte and four are from Davao de Oro.
 
 
Davao City has seen a recent spike in local transmission of Covid-19.  Calls to put back the city under the strict enhanced community quarantine were quashed by local health officials.

Dr. Ashley Lopez, the city’s focal person for Covid-19, said in a virtual press conference that the city is considering all possible options to control the continuous spreading of the virus.

“The surge is not the only thing that we are considering here… because if we are going to impose ECQ, is that what you want? ECQ? There are also economic implications, and President Duterte keeps on repeating that the government does not have money… we have to borrow money,” he said.

Lopez said imposing ECQ or even modified ECQ will affect the business sector and the internal revenue of the city government.

“In my point of view, there are economic considerations that we should think about when we try to impose something, especially MECQ or ECQ. It will compromise so many, and primarily it will affect the business sector… What will we sustain for the people? If you impose ECQ or MECQ, you have to provide for each and everyone,” he said.

The last time the entire city was placed under ECQ was from April 4 to May 15.  Rommel F. Lopez