An official from the Department of Health in the Davao region blamed after-work parties, gatherings, and celebrations for the surge in COVID-19 cases in the city, which recorded a 60 percent increase in two weeks.
The COVID-19 transmissions were traced to “gatherings, the (recent opening of) workplaces and events after work, weddings, birthday parties and other special occasions,” said Dr. Lenny Joy Rivera, assistant director of DOH in Davao region.
Rivera said that one patient who attended a party acquired the COVID-19. The patient then infected 18 of the 27 people who also attended the gathering, including family members.
Davao City authorities saw an increase in infections when the lockdown was lifted, and malls and workplaces were opened. The situation prompted Mayor Sara Duterte to reimpose the 7 pm to 5 am curfew starting October 15.
“Data as of Oct. 15 showed a current 60.10-percent growth in Davao City’s COVID-19 cases in two weeks,” Rivera said in a virtual press conference last week. “This two-week growth was even higher than the 43.60-percent growth seen in the previous two weeks.”
According to the Davao city’s COVID-19 bulletin on October 17, the city has a total of 570 active cases, representing a 74-percent increase from the 327 active cases monitored on October 1.
Parties, gathering blamed for COVID-19 spike in Davao City
Meanwhile, in Cotabato province, Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo said a parish priest in Matalam town tested positive for COVID-19. This caused at least 30 other priests to be put under quarantine.
Bagafor said that the priest could have been infected when he attended a birthday party in Matalam.
Last month, a similar incident occurred in Baguio City after it reported 82 percent of its 43 additional cases of COVID-19 were drinking buddies who shared one shot glass during a social gathering.
“Kahapon mayroon kaming 43 cases. Pero that was the result of contact tracing, 82% of that was the result of contact tracing dahil nagkaroon ho ng inuman sa isang barangay, kainan tapos iisang baso lang ang ginamit sa inuman so ito po ‘yong ang laki po ng implication, dumami po ang na-infect sa barangay na ‘yon,” Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said.