Setting the record straight

This is to set the record straight on claims made in articles written by Caecent No-ot Magsumbol and published in the September 13, 2020 and September 21, 2020 editions of The FREEMAN.

The September 13, 2020 edition carried a warning made by Dr. Peter Mancao that the Province of Cebu’s COVID-19 cases may see a surge given that many are not observing the proper health protocols.

On the other hand, the September 21, 2020 edition erroneously reported that, as of September 19, 2020, the Province of Cebu registered 632 active cases while Cebu City’s active cases registered below 400. The article also paralleled the active cases in the Province of Bohol (135 active cases), the Province of Negros Oriental (44 active cases), and the Province of Siquijor (no active cases) with the Province of Cebu.

Possibly, the articles may have been based on inaccurate data. Nonetheless, we address the allegations brought up in the articles below.

There is no surge of COVID-19 cases in the Province of Cebu.

No less than the Department of Health Region VII Director, Dr. Jaime Bernadas, disputed the September 13, 2020 article by stating that the entire Region VII has achieved the flattening of the curve with the diminishing of transmissions.

Since day one of the lock down, the Provincial Government of Cebu has been on top of the situation and managed the pandemic with prudence by implementing stringent measures thru Executive Orders and Provincial Ordinances.

Active cases as of September 19, 2020 is not 632.

Based on the data submitted by the different local government units, the number of active cases reported in the Province of Cebu is NOT 632 BUT 540 with 4,418 recoveries.

Cebu City’s Morbidity Rate is much higher than the Province.

Considering the total population of the entire Province of Cebu is 3,226,290, as compared to Cebu City’s population of 1,012,803, its morbidity rate – the frequency or proportion with which a disease appears in a population – is 17 for every 100,000 whereas Cebu City’s morbidity rate is 37 for every 100,000.

Majority of COVID-19 infections are from Cebu City.

Just as important, when the risk classification of Cebu City was reclassified to GCQ, the Province of Cebu lifted its strict border controls thru Executive Order No. 17 – D (June 3, 2020) as said City’s risk classification became similar to that of the Province. Noticeably, the number of cases in the Province immediately spiked days after the border controls were lifted.

Again, based on the data submitted by the different local government units, majority of the COVID-19 cases in the Province have a history of travel to Cebu City.

On a final note, we find it unfair to categorize Cebu with Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor since these provinces never had a hotspot unlike Cebu where Cebu City was once labeled “the epicenter” of the COVID-19.

Sgd. Atty. Frank Eduard C. Dinsay V

Chief of Staff

Cebu Provincial Governor’s Office