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IN FEAR of the spread of Covid-19 infections, the Inter-institutional Regional Working Group for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (RIATF) 7 recommended the cancellation of all “physical and performance-based” Sinulog Festival activities this year.
The RIATF sent its recommendation to the national IATF asking the latter not to allow any Sinulog performances, even if they are pre-recorded.
In a resolution approved during a virtual meeting on Thursday, January 7, 2021, RIATF 7 said it considers it more practical to present Sinulog Festival activities and performances from previous years through an online platform.
RIATF 7 said that all performance-based Sinulog Festival activities such as the Ritual Dance Showdown and Street Dance Competition, among others, pose a threat to the participating contingents and the potential crowd it could attract, consequently, can increase the risk of Covid. -19 infection.
RIATF 7 also said that even limiting the number of performers allowed in each contingent and holding pre-recorded performances in their respective venues can still pose a risk of Covid-19 infection, as it still requires participants to meet and interact during rehearsals. and the actual event. performance for video recordings.
RIATF 7 said this will likely draw crowds that can be difficult to control due to limited security personnel.
Cases on the rise
The Department of Health (DOH) 7 reported a double-digit increase in the number of active Covid-19 cases in Cebu City following the Christmas celebrations.
The spike in cases comes as Cebu braces for the threat posed by the new variant of Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.
“Despite the mutual goal of preserving Sinulog culture and tradition, this time of global crisis demands that public health and safety be everyone’s top priority,” reads part of RIATF resolution 7.
In separate interviews, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella and Deputy Mayor Michael Rama said they would await the final decision from the IATF.
“If the IATF does not approve, I will issue a cancellation,” Labella said.
Rama, who is also the lead coordinator for this year’s Sinulog, said: “Atong klaruhon na ilang kay wa na man tay SRP recommendation. Unsa pa man ilang taste? (Let’s make your recommendation clear because we no longer have live performances on SRP. So what more do you want?) “
Rama was referring to the “physical activities” in Sinulog this year, such as street dancing, which was supposed to take place at SRP but had already been canceled by the City.
The Sinulog organizers also decided to have the contingent performances for the Ritual Showdown prerecorded in separate venues.
Proof required
Before the RIATF 7 resolution, Labella also ordered Sinulog participants from the city’s barangays to get tested for Covid and get a negative result to be allowed to act.
Labella issued the requirement after a contestant in the Ritual Showdown category tested positive for the virus.
Although all performances will be prerecorded and shown online, the possibility of streaming still lurks during rehearsals, Labella said.
“Participants in the virtual, online, still meet. There is still the possibility of contamination, ”Labella said.
Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera, Deputy Director of Implementation for the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), said a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test will be conducted among contingents.
Garganera said a pool of five swab samples from five participants will be tested at the same time.
He urged the Sinulog Foundation Inc. to isolate the participants and start putting contingents in a “bubble” until the day of the scheduled recording of their performances.
As for the contingent whose member tested positive for Covid-19, Garganera said that the group may still be present since the person no longer attended the trials since December 29, 2020.
Contact trackers also found that those who recently came into contact with the Covid-19 patient have not manifested any symptoms, Garganera said. / JJL
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