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The city of CEBU may again be subjected to a strict lockdown if cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) continue to increase here in the coming days.
The warning was issued by Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera, Director of Implementation of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during a press conference on Thursday, November 12, 2020.
The EOC has noticed a growing number of Covid-19 cases registered in the city in the last seven days.
Garganera said that if the public continues to violate quarantine protocols, the city could be back under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) before the end of November.
Garganera fears a second wave of Covid-19 transmission in Cebu City, as First World countries are now experiencing.
“How much more us,” Garganera said.
He added that if a lockdown were to be re-imposed, they have yet to decide whether it should be city-wide or granular depending on demographics.
New cases
Data from the Central Visayas Department of Health (DOH) showed that Cebu City recorded four cases of Covid-19 on November 6 and 12 on November 7; seven on November 8; five on November 9; 13 on November 10; and on November 28, 11, the highest number of cases registered in the city since the beginning of November.
Garganera said the 28 new cases recorded in a single day are also higher than the number of recoveries on Nov.11, which was just 14.
DOH 7 spokesperson for Covid-19 updates, Mary Jean Loreche, said the granular locks will help contain the spread of the virus.
Loreche noted a laxity in the implementation of health protocols.
“Let’s keep a close eye on the next few days and keep reminding people to be very cautious and strictly follow health standards,” Loreche said.
External transmissions
The EOC noted an increase in external broadcasts which are now 80 percent, while domestic broadcasts are at 20 percent based on data collected from October 28 to November 10.
In that 14-day period, 23.43 percent of the cases were found to have been directly exposed to a positive Covid case from outside their homes; while the others who contracted the virus said they may have contracted it in their workplace (15.62 percent), public markets (12.50) and supermarkets (9.37 percent).
Garganera hopes the current data serves as a warning to the public.
As of November 11, the city recorded a total of 10,348 Covid-19 cases with 9,534 recoveries. A total of 131 active cases remain.
The number of deaths also reached 682.
Currently, Cebu City has a positivity rate of 11.22 percent from 92,203 people tested.
The EOC noted that many people are now leaving their homes to attend meetings, while some residents in the mountain barangays are also too accommodating, violating quarantine protocols, Garganera said.
An inmate at the Cebu City jail was also taken to a hospital after testing positive for the virus, it added.
Cebu City is now under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) until the end of November.
Mass meetings
Meanwhile, the head of the Business Licensing and Permitting Office (BPLO), Jared Limquiaco, urged establishments to coordinate with the city and police if they hold sales events to control the crowd and avoid mass gatherings.
This is after a shoe store in Barangay Lahug was forced to close on Wednesday, November 11, after shoppers flocked to the store for its grand opening sale on 11/11.
Police Colonel Josefino Ligan, director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said charges will be brought against the owners of JS Footwear for violating executive orders issued by the Cebu City government on protocols. required by the Covid-19 Interinstitutional Working Group. (IATF).
“They should have coordinated with us first so that we can help them meet the health standards requirements set out by the IATF,” Ligan said.
Executive Order 094 prohibits commercial establishments from making bargain-priced sales without minimum health protocols.
In addition to the shop owners, the Cebu city government also ordered Barangay Lahug officials to explain why they should not be administratively charged for allowing the mass gathering on Wednesday.
The City’s Legal Office, led by City Attorney Rey Gealon, sent a show of cause order to Barangay Lahug director Hazel Ann Muaña-Empleo, and councilors Ronnie Sánchez, Ramie Borromeo and Romeo Borden on Thursday, December 12. November.
Officials were given 24 hours to explain why they shouldn’t be charged with breach of duty for allegedly failing to control the mass gathering outside the newly opened store.
Gealon said officials could also be held liable for allowing the store to operate without a business permit.
“I ask the people of Cebu City to follow minimum health protocols. We have already spent eight months under this pandemic. We should have learned our lesson by now. We cannot afford to be placed under ECQ again, ”added Ligan.
Life vs. living
The President of the Philippine-Cebuano Business Club (FilCeb), Rey Calooy, urged local government and leaders to rethink and reevaluate the Covid-19 situation based on evidence and science before making a decision on a shutdown.
“I would like to express our deep concern about the imminent closure. Our Gross Domestic Product for the second and third quarters showed a negative fall (total-28) and with the prolonged economic recession, this will lead to an economic depression which is a more dangerous and terrifying situation that we can face in the future, ”he said in a release. of appeal directed to Garganera.
“Filceb hopes to reconsider to achieve life-life balance. In this way, we recommend granular blocking, ”Calooy said.
Asked for comment, Garganera said the City should not have to choose between livelihoods and people’s lives, considering the city’s economy is still recovering.
He said health protocols should only be observed so that Cebu City does not return to where it was months ago.
Meanwhile, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) asked business establishments to strictly adhere to health guidelines.
“We already had single digits for weeks. We should all be responsible enough because Covid simply hides anywhere and can strike at any time, ”said CCCI President Felix Taguiam.
/ WORK, PAC / JKV, AYB
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