In Cebu City from August 18 - 31, 2020: Over 65% gets virus outside

CEBU, Philippines —  Two days into modified general community quarantine, the Cebu City government urged the public anew to observe health protocols strictly as more and more people return to work as more businesses reopen.

In a presser yesterday, City Legal Officer Rey Gealon said numbers from August 18 to August 31, 2020 showed 65.27 percent of infections in the city happened outside of home – in the workplace, at public markets and supermarkets, and other areas. Meanwhile, household transmission is placed at 34.72 percent.

"Mao nay timan-an nato nga sa gawas didto kasagaran ang tinakdanay… Buot pasabot, sa higayon nga mogawas tas atong tagsa-tagsa ka mga panimay, kay daghan naman ang nanarbaho nato, kay daghan na ang mga negosyong nagbukas pagbalik,

di gyud ta malimot sa kinahanglanon nga atong dad-on ug gamiton -- face mask, face shield, alcohol, disinfectants, personal hygiene, pagpanglimpyo sa atong kaugalingon ug sa atong palibot, sa atong balay, ug ilabi na sa tagsa-tagsa nato ka mga trabahoan," Gealon said.

(That’s why we have to remember that infection happens mostly outside… this means, each time we go out – because more and more of us are returning to work as more businesses are reopening – we should not forget to bring the essentials: face mask, face shield, alcohol, disinfectants, personal hygiene, cleaning our surroundings, our house, and especially our workplaces.)

On the first day of MGCQ on Tuesday, September 1, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) apprehended 13 quarantine violators said CPPO Director Josefino Ligan.

This number is smaller than the number of those arrested in previous weeks and months, and Ligan said this can be a sign that people are now more mindful of standard health protocols.

He also attributes this to the enforcement of the city ordinances that penalizes quarantine violators.

"Ang mga tawo, murag natagam na gyud aning City Ordinance 2566. Bug-at gyud sya kay ma-priso man gyud so kana among gipadayon nga gipatuman," Ligan said.

(It seems that residents are afraid of City Ordinance 2566 because the penalty is heavy; you can be imprisoned. That’s what we are continuing to enforce.)

Vehicle traffic on Day 1 of MGCQ was also heavier compared to when the city was still under GCQ.

"Kung ma-obserbaran ninyo, traffic gyud, kay tungod lagi ang ubang mga establisyemento nang abli na ang 50 percent then ang uban, nangita ug trabaho, naggamit ang sakyanan, mao nang nanggawas," Ligan said.

(As you have observed, traffic was heavy because more establishments are opening up to 50 percent… others are looking for jobs and using vehicles so they were out.)

He said congestion could also be because the city police did not ease down on traffic control.

"Daghan ang mga motorista kagahapon, naa pa juy checkpoints, so nihuot jud ang kadalanan kagahapon," Ligan said yesterday.

(We had more motorists yesterday and there were still checkpoints so there was really congestion in the streets.)

Efforts

Meanwhile, Gealon said Mayor Edgardo Labella has directed all 80 barangays to implement the minimum health protocols strictly and to monitor individuals under home quarantine to prevent the spread of the virus, as mandated by the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

Quoting the EOC, Gealon said all those who have tested positive have been brought to quarantine and isolation centers through the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Gealon said the city’s contact tracing teams have accounted for all persons considered close contacts of the new positive patients.

"The slight spike in the number of positive cases is a warning that we should not let our guards down," he said.

As of Tuesday, September 1, Cebu City recorded 21 new COVID-19 cases bringing the total number to 9,653. Of this, 644 are active cases. At least 8,358 have recovered 651 have succumbed to the disease.

Task Force Kasaligan

At CCPO, the first batch of applicants to Task Force Kasaligan will undergo briefing and seminar tomorrow, Friday.

Ligan said 150 have applied, less than their target of 200 applicants.

The Task Force Kasaligan is a team of force multipliers the police are forming. All those with a Bachelor’s degree, especially a criminology degree, can apply.

Those accepted to task force will fill in the posts vacated by the augmentation forces from Regions 6 and 8. The task force will work with CCPO cops in enforcing the minimum health standard protocols.

"Padayon lang gihapon ang atong pagpang-dawat sa mga mu apply sa Task Force Kasaligan didto sa atong station sa Plaza Independencia, karon ug ugma. Hinaot nga makab-ot nato ang 200 nga target," Ligan said.

(We will continue to accept applicants for Task Force Kasaligan at our station at Plaza Independencia today and tomorrow. Hopefully, we will reach our 200 target.) — Mary Ruth R. Malinao, JMO  (FREEMAN)