Cebu City residents told: “Focus on household protection”

CEBU, Philippines — Mayor Michael Rama has appealed for Cebu City residents to help stop the spread of COVID-19 anew by protecting their families at the household level while the city continues to grapple with the effects of Typhoon Odette.

Cebu City is seeing a sharp spike in its coronavirus infections at the start of the New Year. It logged 145 new cases on January 9, bringing its number of active cases to 430. Before Christmas, and before Odette devastated much of Cebu on December 16, Cebu City’s active cases were down to 36.

 “I once again appeal to our citizens to do all your best, despite the challenges and difficulties, to protect your family members, your own household, from new threats that have emerged. Katong wa gyuy gikinahanglan, puyo ra gyud mo,” Rama said.

The city’s curfew hours are now back to 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Rama said the rise in cases is something they expected in the aftermath of the typhoon.

Now, protecting one’s household, one’s family, will already contribute to the city’s overall protection from the further spread of the virus.

“Sa mga hagit nga atong nahi-aguman, gikan sa pandemya, kalamidad, balik na sab sa pandemya, angay lang nga unahon nato nga mapanalipdan ang atong masigka-banay. Yes, protect your loved ones more than yourself,” he said.

“Focus on household protection. Niini nga paagi, makatampo ka sa pagpanalipod pa gani sa inyong mga silingan, ug sa tibuok komunidad. Maka-abag pa ka sa mga paninguha sab sa atong kagamhanan mapanalipdan ang katilingban,” he added.

Preemptive

The good news is that the city has not recorded COVID-related deaths, so far, and its critical care utilization in hospitals remains low, but Rama wants residents to be proactive with the threat of the Omicron variant.

 He also urged those who are still not vaccinated to get the jab. Health experts have observed that those hit by the Omicron variant experience only mild symptoms, especially those who are vaccinated.

“Laging handa. Mas maayo pa nga we are over-prepared ug over-protective sa atong kaugalingong banay, maka-tabang ta sa usa’g-usa. Unsaon man? Puyo lang gyud kanunay sa balay, gawas lang kung gikinahanglan. Unsaon pa, kung wala pa, PaBakunaTa, karon na!” appeals Rama.

Rama also instructed the City Health Department to distribute medicines to residents and to prioritize those in depressed areas.

More isolation/quarantine centers and temporary treatment and monitoring facilities are also being readied, including the Cebu City Quarantine Center and the Cebu City Sports Center.

Oplan Bulabog

For its part, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) will bring back ‘Oplan Bulabog’ to ensure strict implementation of health protocols, particularly the enforcement of curfew.

Police Lt. Colonel Wilbert Parilla, Deputy City Director for Operations of CCPO, said they have observed that there are residents who are no longer following health protocols properly.

 "Mubalik na sad ta sa Oplan Bulabog kay nakita na sad nato nga bisan pa og curfew, naa pa gihapon ang mga tawo, so ato na sad i-higpit balik ilabi na sa imnanan," Parilla said.

He said ‘Oplan Bulabog’ was halted temporarily as the police were deployed to assist in response and clearing operations following Typhoon Odette.

During ‘Oplan Bulabog,’ cops inspect business establishments randomly to make sure curfew hours are observed.

"Allowed na man gud sila mugawas (public); di naman nato na sila mabadlong, as long as mag -sul-ob sila sa ilang facemask, vaccinated… wala na nato sila gipugngan," Parilla said.

 "Ato na na gi-recommend balik sa mayor nga pahugtan na nato og balik ang monitoring sa mga establishments nga ang allowed ra gyud musulod, kato rang vaccinated, based sa last directive sa atong mayor," he said.--- Iris Hazel M. Mascardo, JMO (FREEMAN)