Cebu City under state of Preparedness: No need to ban Chinese - Consul

CEBU, Philippines — There is no need to ban Chinese tourists from entering Cebu as they themselves are having a difficult time leaving their country due to the novel coronavirus.

This was the statement of Consul General Jia Li of the consulate of the People's Republic of China during a press conference in Cebu yesterday, a day after Lapu-Lapu Mayor Junard Chan and Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella made the call to national authorities in the Philippines.

Li said that since January 27, group tours of Chinese nationals to other countries have been cancelled.

The 2019-nCoV strain has already claimed the lives of 132 Chinese with 5,999 others in China infected. Three thousand more are under quarantine as they are suspected to have acquired the virus, Li said.

He said there is no confirmed case of infection by the strain in Cebu, thus, banning Chinese tourists may not be necessary as other countries that have confirmed cases have not put a ban in place.

He said the Chinese love coming to Cebu its culture, history, food, blue skies, souvenirs, resorts, sea, and white sands. In 2018, around 630,000 Chinese tourists visited and this number rose to 700,000 in 2019.

So far, he said, he has not received reports of Chinese nationals being discriminated against here because of the outbreak. In fact, he reportedly finds Filipinos very compassionate, friendly, and heartwarming at this time when China is in crisis.

Li also thanked the Department of Health-7, medical staff, hospital personnel, and everyone who took good care of the five-year-old Chinese boy who, alongside his mother, had to be put in quarantine in Cebu City for a few days while waiting for a confirmatory test that would tell if he acquired the 2019-nCoV.

The boy came from Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak in China.

Li said he is optimistic that China can surpass the challenge with the help of the World Health Organization but added that the outbreak will incur tremendous loss in tourist arrivals, investments, cultural exchanges, among others, but China’s primary focus now is how to contain the virus.

For its intensified thermal scanning, the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) at the Mactan Cebu International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City has been on heightened alert and has intensified monitoring of arriving passengers by taking additional thermal scans of passenger body temperatures on the aerobridges of all flights arriving directly from China.

This is in addition to the thermal scanning at the Immigration Arrival Level.

The airport caters to 36 flights per week from China – from Guangzhou, Xiamen, Chengdu, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Nanjing, and Hangzhou.

Airport officials said earlier that all airlines have been advised to make a standard in-flight announcement prior to landing at MCIA, advising passengers experiencing flu-like symptoms to self-declare and voluntarily submit to a medical screening by the Bureau of Quarantine upon disembarkation.

Preparedness

Yesterday, the Cebu City Council has placed the city under a state of preparedness for the implementation of a city-wide prevention mechanism and preparedness measures.

Under Section 3 of R.A. 10121 or the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, "preparedness" is defined as pre-disaster actions and measures being undertaken within the context of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management.

Pursuant to R.A. 10121 and joint memorandum circular no. 2013-1 issued on March 25, 2013, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Department of Budget and Management, Department of the Interior and Local Government, the city, and barangays are mandated to utilize up to 70 percent of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Funds (LDRRMF) for disaster prevention and mitigation and preparedness.

As also advised by the Department of Health (DOH), the city reminded the public to practice frequent handwashing, avoid unprotected contact with farm or wild animals, ensure that food is well-cooked, practice proper cough etiquette, and avoid close contact with people showing cold or flu-like symptoms.

Schools, malls, private and public offices, places of worship, ports, terminals, tri-media, hospitals, and health centers are directed to adopt precautionary measures and correct information drive regarding 2019-nCoV.

The public is directed to be cautious and responsible when sharing any news regarding the 2019-nCoV to avoid panic. Only verified and confirmed information from the DOH should be disseminated.

The Local Price Coordinating Council or Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) are directed to monitor prices and prevent and control instances of overpricing, profiteering or hoarding of prime commodities as well as personal protective equipment and medical supplies.

The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the barangays are directed to utilize the LDRRMF for disaster prevention, mitigation, and preparedness.

Yesterday, too, the Department of Education-7 Acting Director Salustiano Jimenez has issued Memorandum 0063-2020 requiring division offices to strengthen prevention initiatives in schools across Central Visayas.

Jimenez said schools must adopt measures such as mobilization for coronavirus prevention campaign, health information dissemination, education, and collaboration with stakeholders.

Prayer

Meanwhile, the Archdiocese of Cebu will release an Oratio Imperata or a prayer for those worrying about the virus.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma also said it may be practical, considering the situation, that those who will be receiving communion will do so by receiving the Eucharist with their hand, instead of receiving it straight from the priest by the mouth.

The archdiocese, however, will have to wait for a formal directive from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).  JMO (FREEMAN)