Davao City back to GCQ — Palace

Davao City has reverted to general community quarantine beginning Friday until November 30 due to rise in COVID-19 cases, Malacañang said.

In a statement, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said a One Hospital Command Center would be established in the city to ensure an efficient referral system.

Private hospitals were mandated to increase their ward bed occupancy by at least 20% to 30%.

“Further, efforts will be made to address the shortage of nurses in health facilities and to provide additional high-oxygen cannula, favipiravir (Avigan), remdesivir, medical equipment, among others,” he added.

Accommodation establishments will be tapped to serve as quarantine facilities for health workers as well as the isolation of COVID-19 patients, Roque said.

Law enforcement agencies were also directed to assist in the enforcement of granular lockdowns upon affected communities or clusters, and if necessary, deploy personnel in the city.

The COVID-19 task force also assigned Melquiades Feliciano, deputy chief Implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 for the cities and Bacolod and Cebu, to assist in the response activities.

The city, which was previously under modified GCQ, has recorded 5,541 COVID-19 cases, of which close to 2,000 are active. — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News