In response to its first confirmed monkeypox (mpox) case, the provincial government of Davao del Sur has issued a directive requiring the mandatory use of face masks in all public spaces.
The order, signed by Governor Yvonne Cagas under Executive Order No. 20, s. 2025, was announced Wednesday and applies to schools, public transport, markets, churches, commercial spaces, healthcare facilities, and crowded areas where physical distancing may be difficult to observe.
The move follows the detection of the province’s first mpox case in the town of Magsaysay. Local government units across the province have been instructed to activate Health Emergency Response Teams to boost surveillance, reporting, and public education. Teams are also expected to coordinate with local health offices for isolation, referral, and contact tracing of suspected cases.
Confirmed mpox cases have also been reported in Davao City, South Cotabato, and Maguindanao del Norte.
Monkeypox, officially declared a public health emergency of international concern in 2024, is a viral disease transmitted through direct contact with an infected person’s skin, bodily fluids, respiratory droplets, or contaminated objects. Symptoms include fever, rashes or lesions, exhaustion, and loss of appetite.
Health officials are urging the public to stay alert and practice preventive measures to help curb the spread of the disease.
