SPMC suspends services amid fourth surge

Davao City's Southern Philippines Medical Center suspended inpatient and outpatient services on January 17 due to an increase in COVID-19 cases.

The city saw a nearly 700% rise in new cases from January 9 to January 16, with Mayor Sara Duterte calling it the fourth surge since the start of the pandemic.

Davao City accounted for 72.2% of active cases in Southern Mindanao as of January 16, and the government placed Davao region under Alert Level 3 until January 31.