Read this in The Manila Times digital edition.

DAVAO CITY: The free surveillance swabbing for Davaoeños manifesting influenza-like symptoms and close contacts of confirmed Covid-positive patients continues with the recent increase of cases here.

A glance at the Tarlac State University Lapaz campus building on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022. PHOTO BY JERRY HERNANDEZ Dr. Michelle Schlosser, Covid-19 Task Force spokeswoman, renewed her call for individuals to submit themselves to surveillance swabbing if they are experiencing cough, colds, fever, diarrhea, or sore throat to help break the chain of infection, because once found positive, necessary interventions will be accorded.

The Sta. Ana Health Center Covid-19 Cluster Clinic (CCC), Crocodile Park Swabbing Site and the Talomo River CCC are the ones catering to free swab testing for confirmed Covid-positive close contacts.

Schlosser reminded confirmed Covid patients and their close contacts to honestly disclose their symptoms.

"If you lie about your health status, if you say you don't have any symptoms, you can opt-out of a swab. But in case you have the symptoms and you are in very close contact, you can put at high risk your loved ones, colleagues if you are working, strangers, then you'll be meeting during your interaction and activities," she said.

Disclosure of close contacts, according to her, will help break the chain of infection and transmission, maintain the city's Alert Level 1 status, and keep the economy going.

"The rise and fall of the cases are dependent on each of us. It will always be dependent on the behavior of the people," she said.

The Vaccination Cluster, meanwhile, reported that active Covid cases increased between July 31 and August 6 by about 38 percent from July 24 to 30, 2022, with an average daily positivity rate of 10.67 percent.

Out of the 510 active cases, 294 are asymptomatic, 199 are mild, 13 are moderate, two are severe and two are critical.