On Cimatu’s first day: Nearly 100 new cases, 7 deaths

CEBU, Philippines — On the day retired military general Roy Cimatu assumed post yesterday as czar for Cebu’s fight against COVID-19, he was met by these statistics in Cebu City: 30 new confirmed cases, seven fatalities, and 31 recoveries.

In Cebu province, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said the active cases have increased to 503 yesterday from the at least 440 on Monday, which means a surge of about 60 cases.

Of the 503, 126 are currently hospitalized and 110 under home and facility quarantine.

The number of cases in Cebu City yesterday was the lowest since the city transitioned to the more restrictive enhanced community quarantine on June 16, after seeing a spike of infections during the first half of the month under a general community quarantine.

The Cebu City Health Department (CCHD) reported the new cases were from Barangay Sambag 1, seven; Barangay Sambag 2, five; and Barangay Quiot, four.

Two cases each were also reported in Barangays Mambaling, Pasil, Punta, and Tisa while Barangays Mabolo, Pahina Central, Pardo, Suba, Tejero and Tinago recorded one case each.

The additional cases bring the city’s total number of infections to 4,479, of which 2,213 are active.

CCHD reported that the new deaths were one each from Barangay Basak San Nicolas, Barangay Duljo, Barangay Labangon, Barangay Mambaling, and Barangay Tejero, and two from Barangay Tisa.

The total deaths in the city have now reached to 89.

Meanwhile, the 31 new recoveries yesterday bring the total number in the city to 2,177. The recoveries yesterday were all from Barangay Labangon.

69 Cops infected

The total number of policemen in Cebu who have contracted the virus has surged to 69, of which 30 are active cases.

Cebu City Police Office Director Colonel Cydric Earl Tamayo said this after 10 more cops from the 25 who were found positive in the rapid test earlier have also tested positive in the ensuing swab test.

Tamayo assured though that the CCPO has been strict in observing the protocols. Those believed to have been in contact with infected police personnel have been isolated and set to undergo rapid test even if are not showing any symptom.

“Paghuman og ma-rapid na sila, if naay mag-positive, amo dayon nga i-swab kay we are already in a proactive state na ma-suppress namo ang contamination among the PNP personnel kay kung dili ni namo i-istrikto, basin maubos mi og ka-positive,” said Tamayo.

At present, only one cop among those who are found positive is manifesting symptoms and is now on isolation while awaiting results of the tests.

When the 25 police personnel turned positive in the rapid test earlier, the City Director’s Office and Operations Office of CCPO were immediately placed under lockdown. Tamayo said that 14 personnel under these offices will remain isolated for their 14-day self-quarantine.

“Ang advice sa amo sa DOH after seven days, which is medyo mao daw na ang pwede nga makatakod, mao nay pwede nga ma-positive, so after seven days, kuhaan mi og swab,” said Tamayo.

DOH officers are closely monitoring the condition of the infected cops. JMD (FREEMAN)