Alert Level 3 for whole Central Visayas

CEBU, Philippines —  All local government units in Central Visayas, except for Siquijor, will now be under Alert Level 3 until the end of the month.

On Friday, January 14, the national IATF added Cebu Province, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Lapu-Lapu City to the list, which already had Cebu City and Mandaue City. Siquijor is still under Alert Level 2.

A major difference between the two alert levels is the capacity allowed at business establishments, and in organizing activities. Acting Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles said the IATF decided to put these areas, as well as other areas in the country under Level 3 owing to the spike of coronavirus infections.

In Central Visayas, Cebu City has the most active cases at 1,292 as of January 14, based on data from the city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

It also recorded a positivity rate of 27.11 percent after 366 turned out positive out of 1,350 tested. This is the highest rate recorded in a day. But it was actually Lapu-Lapu City that was escalated to Level 3 first.

The city has lobbied to be deescalated but Friday’s announcement would mean the appeal was not approved.

“27.11 % positivity rate is the highest since the start of this pandemic. It’s been two weeks since our case started to rise… we have a total of 1292 active cases and we have 366 last night. It’s rising but our hospitals are at a very minimum occupancy and mortalities, so far, claimed two lives, elderly immunocompromised. We are expecting this to rise for the next two weeks or so, so we’re expecting everyone’s cooperation. We should be in this together, together in our protocol compliance. We can weather this, amping unya ampo sad. Kaya Nato Ni, Viva Pit Señor!” said EOC chief, Councilor Joel Garganera.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has not issued a statement as of this writing. In a previous interview, however, Garcia said the province cannot afford to impose restrictions as Cebuanos are still suffering and recovering from the onslaught of typhoon Odette.

“Ang NCR, they can afford mag-Level 3 sila, mag unsa sila, unya mag-restrictions na sad. We cannot afford that right now. You cannot say ‘stay at home.’ I have 90, 000 families that do not have homes. Where will they stay? We’ve just been hit by Odette… low na kaayo ang morale sa atong mga kaigsoonan… we will cause more misery with more restriction,” Garcia said.

Even with the development, the critical utilization rate in private hospitals in Cebu is still in a safe level at 25.2 percent as of January 12. This means only 181 of the 718 beds allocated for COVID patients are being used. Of this number, 106 patients have mild symptoms or asymptomatic, 68 are moderate cases and severe cases, and seven are critical and are in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Isolation

Yesterday, DOH-7 chief pathologist, Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, said the best should be given to patients who need them most.

 “We have a lot of rooms and a lot of beds. We do not want to fill these up. We want home quarantine and home isolation for our people who are asymptomatic, mild or for those who are moderate, low risk,” she said.

 There are 537 COVID beds in private hospitals. For public DOH-retained/sentinel hospitals, the capacity utilization rate is at 64.8 percent. This translates to 283 admitted COVID patients of the 437 beds allocated for COVID. Among those admitted, 142 are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, 140 have moderate or severe symptoms, and one is in critical condition and is in the ICU.

 “Sana, itong asymptomatic and mild na to, nasa bahay lang po sana ito or kung available ang TTMF, nandon lang sana then sigurado po ako sobrang laki ng ating bakanteng mga kama then we would not be reaching a critical care utilization of 64.85%,” Loreche said.

Cebu City

In Cebu City, Mayor Michael Rama reminded residents anew to follow minimum health public standards. He also asked them to remain at home unless it is necessary for them to go out.

Policemen along with barangay officials and tanods have been mobilized to check on compliance, as well on establishments allowed to operate.

 “They were there to be appraised, especially on their participation with Oplan Puyo (Operation Plan Stay). It will now be Oplan Badlong (Operation Plan Admonish),” Mayor Rama said in today’s Convergence Meeting at the Social Hall.

Under Executive Order No. 143, the Cebu City Police Office Director heads Task Force Puyo, meant to implement guidelines and policies when the was under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) last year.

The city will also have a curfew of 11 p.m. to 4 a.m., the same with neighboring Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.

 However, authorized persons outside residence (APORs), BPO employees, health workers, and government agencies providing frontline and emergency services, shall be exempted.

Home isolation has also been highlighted so people with flu-like symptoms can just stay at home and isolate themselves in order to prevent spreading the virus to others. The new directive reiterates this.

“We have to emphasize that all preventive measures will start from home. We know already that we are under threat and still recovering from Typhoon Odette. So we have to look after our family,” said Atty. Collin Rosell, the Mayor’s consultant, in a press conference yesterday.

The directive also calls for the strict and mandatory observance of minimum public health standards in public utility vehicles, as provided under City Ordinance No. 2628.

Other Level 3

LGUs Aside from the provinces in Central Visayas, the following areas are also under Alert Level 3 starting January 16 : Baguio City, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Dagupan City, Ilocos Sur, Santiago City sa Region 2, Cagayan, Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Olongapo City, Pampanga, Zambales, Rizal, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Lucena City, Marinduque, Romblon, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Naga City, Sorsogon, Iloilo City, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Guimaras, Ormoc City, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Southern Leyte, Western Samar, City of Isabela sa Region 9, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur, Bukidnon, Iligan City, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, General Santos City, dSouth Cotabato, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte and Lanao del Sur. - JMO (FREEMAN)