Davao City placed under community quarantine

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has placed the entire city under community quarantine through Executive Order No. 10, citing the need to be aggressive and proactive against the impending spread of COVID-19.

The declaration was partly due to the challenges faced with limited testing kits and the long turnaround time for test results, which need to be sent to Metro Manila.

Mayor Duterte stated that the city would no longer wait for two confirmed COVID-19 cases in different barangays before implementing a city-wide quarantine, as previously suggested by the Inter-Agency Task Force.

Residents are required to stay in their homes, with exceptions for work, purchasing food and medicine, hospital visits, or taking out garbage.

Mass gatherings, classes from kindergarten to post-graduate levels, and all religious activities have been suspended until the state of public health emergency is lifted.

Government work will continue, with City Hall maintaining operations to dispense public services, and employees from other provinces are allowed entry after necessary screening.

Private companies are mandated to prepare and implement flexible work plans for their employees in anticipation of a potential lockdown.

Residents are encouraged to shift to online transactions for procuring services and goods, utilizing available messengering and courier services, as well as online stores.

Public transportation will remain operational, but passengers will be required to wear masks due to the difficulty in enforcing social distancing on jeepneys, vans, and buses.

Cargo deliveries are permitted, provided that the unloading is handled by the workers of the receiving company or area.