No COVID-19 transmission in 39 Cebu City barangays

CEBU, Philippines —  After a traumatic bout with a third wave of COVID-19 infections in July and August, Cebu City can heave a sigh of relief as 39 of its 80 barangays registered zero transmissions, latest records of the city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) show.

During the third wave, infection was present in all barangays.

As of November 5, 2021, only 216 active cases remain with the most number recorded in Barangay Guadalupe with 12 cases. Barangay Talamban has 11 while Barangays Bacayan and Inayawan have eight.

Four barangays have six cases left, including Basak Pardo, Mambaling, Sambag 2, and Tisa.

Barangays Cogon Ramos, Lahug, Mabolo, Quiot, Santa Cruz, and Camputhaw have five active cases left while Barangays Apas and Pit-os have four active cases.

Barangays Buhisan, Punta Princesa, and San Jose has three active cases left while Barangays Banilad, Labangon, Luz, Sudlon II, and Zapatera have two active cases left each.

The rest of the barangays only have one active case left, including Babag, Basak San Nicolas, Bulacao, Busay, Calamba, Capitol Site, Carreta, Duljo Fatima, Kalunasan, Kasambagan, Kinasang-an PArdo, Lorega-San Miguel, Pardo, Pari-an, Sambag 1, Sapangdaku, and Sto. Niño.

Other numbers

Also as of November 5, the city registered a positivity rate of 1.52 percent, which means only 13 out of the 858 residents tested positive for COVID-19.

“Our positivity rate is really low at 1.52 percent with 858 tested and only 13 got positive. And we now have 39 barangays that have no reported transmission for the last 14 days,” said EOC’s deputy chief implementer, Councilor Joel Garganera.

The city’s is also able to maintain a low critical care utilization rate at 22.24 percent with 153 of 535 beds dedicated for COVID cases occupied.

So far, two deaths were recorded in the first five days of November but as Garganera has since emphasized, “one death is too many”.

At least 1,517 have succumbed to COVID-19 in the city since the start of the pandemic.

Garganera attributes the lowering of cases to cooperation of residents in observing health protocols and in getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

As of November 2, 2021, at least 417,000 have received the first dose while at least 360 have received the second dose. This means the city has fully inoculated 46.01 percent of its eligible residents, although still a long way to the 70 percent target.

Vaccines have been proven to help significantly in preventing hospitalization and worsening of symptoms among those who contract the virus.

Gradual reopening

Even with the very positive numbers, the city government wants to ease restrictions up on a gradual basis. It is now studying lifting the curfew and scrapping the mandatory use of face shield. It has already ditched the plastic barriers between passengers in public utility vehicles to expand capacity.

“Looking at the days to come... we have to do a daily assessment, discussion forward looking if curfew will be lifted… what preparatory things to be pursued… dapat ang tanan, mag- preparar… bottom up,” said Acting Mayor Michael Rama.

He emphasized the role of parents in ensuring that everyone in the household continue to be mindful of protocols.

For the Christmas season, the traditional house-to-house caroling would still not be allowed.

“We have to take things one at a time. Generally, wala pa man gyud ta mu-open up in totality so caroling should not be entertained,” Rama said.

Organizers also need to present a contingency plan if they want to reopen the traditional night market downtown.

“Night market or any activity, kinahanglan gyud dili gyud drastically atong i-allow… much better, there should be a discussion in that direction. We do not want nga later on, we will be closing it as it has become a spreader... Everything can be back, especially if we can already manage the COVID situation... pero, for now, kinahanglan dili dali-dalion and tanan,” Rama said.

Garganera agrees.

“As we ease some of our restrictions, let’s just be gradual about it… let us be mindful nga Christmas is around the corner… ang atong gusto nga mas muhayag pa atong parol,” he said. – JMO (FREEMAN)