Davao City doctors call for 2-week lockdown as COVID-19 cases soar

Doctors and medical directors urged the local government of Davao City to implement a two-week lockdown immediately as the city’s healthcare system “is overwhelmed” with the COVID-19 surge.

Cardiologist Dr. Bernard Chiew, chair of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) national committee on external affairs, posted on Sunday that a lockdown would help the healthcare system recuperate because Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) and private hospitals are “close to full capacity most of the time.”

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An organization of medical directors and doctors in Davao also recommends a two-week lockdown to contain the virus.

According to Chiew, all residents in the city would be assumed to be COVID-19 positive during the two-week period, requiring all individuals to recover and prevent virus transmission.

The doctor added lockdowns were effective in controlling the COVID-19 surge in Cebu and Manila.

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“All these point to one obvious fact: our healthcare system is overwhelmed. That’s why the medical community called for a lockdown to arrest this COVID surge so that Davao’s healthcare system can recover.  That’s the whole point of the call for a lockdown,” he said.

Davao City doctors call for 2-week lockdown as COVID-19 cases soar

Chiew said sustaining lower cases requires discipline.

He said that it is alarming to see isolation facilities bringing in double-decked beds to increase their capacity. There were also delays in transferring patients to SPMC and isolation facilities, while more healthcare workers are getting infected.

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“Healthcare workers are getting sick. Many doctors and nurses have been COVID patients themselves. Opening up more hospitals and centers is out of the question since staffing is now a problem,” he said.

Department of Health-Davao reported that as of November 14, Davao City reported 5,114 cases, comprising 69% of the 7,361 total COVID-19 cases in the region.

At the rate COVID-19 situation in Davao City is going, Chiew said: “It won’t be long for us to see COVID patients on stretchers outside of hospital entrances waiting for vacant beds or for healthcare workers having to play God in choosing whom to give the limited ventilators to.”

“The economic impact is tremendous. But I refuse to believe Davao does not have the money to assist the communities. If the Davao City Council can allot money for Davao thru the Mayor to extend help to Typhoon victims in Luzon, I’m pretty sure we have the money to help our very own for two weeks,” he added.