Cebu City’s COVID-19 numbers ease in April

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City is opening the month of May on a positive note in terms of COVID-19 statistics following improved numbers in April – fewer active cases, lower positivity rate, and fewer deaths.

The city recorded 29 deaths in April as against 64 in March and 51 in February, according to data from the Emergency Operations Center. The April figure was the lowest since January when the city only had 13 reported COVID-19 deaths.

Of the 29 deaths, nine or 65 percent involved individuals under the 60-above age bracket while six were under the 80-89 bracket, four under 50-59, three under 40-49, two under 30-39, and one each from 20-29 and 100-109 age brackets.

The April deaths involved 17 males and 12 females.

Cebu City’s active cases as of end of last month were somewhere at 600.

Its positivity rate on April 30 was also the lowest this year at 3.74%, with only 56 of the 1,497 tested turned out positive for COVID-19.

At 1,780, the total number of new cases in April was also way lower than that of February (4,767) and March (4,136).

But although new cases are showing signs of slowing down, EOC deputy chief implementer and City Councilor Joel Garganera hopes that the second wave of coronavirus infections that have brought India’s healthcare system to near collapse would serve as a reminder for Cebuanos not to be complacent.

The EOC is also visiting barangays, mainly in the mountains, to continue with the education and information dissemination campaign on health protocols against COVID-19, as well as on vaccination.

These mountain barangays are also urged to check whether they are suitable for face-to-face classes already.

DOH-7 figures

Meanwhile, Department of Health-7 data on April 30 showed that Cebu City still has 850 active cases. The disparity between the numbers of the DOH-7 and EOC will soon be reconciled once the health agency has verified the figures reported in the city.

In Lapu-Lapu City, the active cases are at 611, including nine new ones.

Mandaue City is left with 413 active cases, including the 17 new ones.

In Cebu province, there are now 836 active cases with 28 newly reported cases.

Bohol has 1,158 active cases after posting 111 new cases while Negros Oriental is also nearing the 1,00-mark after logging 836 active cases, including the 52 new ones.

Finally, Siquijor now has six active cases. — JMD (FREEMAN)