War on Covid-19 far from over in Cebu
AFTER the June 23 cancellation by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año of some 250,000 quarantine passes that were issued by Cebu City Edgardo Labella last March, the city government printed 178,000 new passes. The distribution of these new passes was completed last week.
Why 178,000? Because that is the number of households in Cebu City, according to a 2016 survey by the Department of Health (DoH), the public was told. The Philippine Statistics Authority ( PSA), however, counted 213,781 households in its 2015 census, up from 195,461 households in 2010 or an increase of almost 10 percent over the five-year period. If we assume a similar increase from 2015 to 2020, the total number of households in Cebu City would be around 233,00, making the deficit of quarantine passes more than 50,000.
This, however, is not how the city government argues. They considered the DoH data more recent than the PSA census. And, explained Cebu City Administrator Attorney Floro Casas Jr., “When it comes to the numbers, of course, we will lean towards the lesser number because that will limit the movement more” (CDN Digital, July 2, 2020).
The result is that many households either did not receive a quarantine pass or were told to share with up to four to five other households, even if it’s printed on the quarantine pass that every house is to receive one.
Obviously this “system” serves to discourage people from going out. However, it also increases the risk of transmission as we are forced to engage with other households whenever we borrow or pass the quarantine pass. This runs counter to the purpose of the enhanced community quarantine. “Limit close contact with people who don’t live in your household,” the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises the public. Supposedly we, too, subscribe to such health protocol. Unfortunately, since the city government deliberately produced fewer quarantine passes than — according to the PSA — there are households, members of different households are forced to have close contact with each other.
A total of 6,454 coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections in Cebu City has been reported by DoH-7 as of July 3. Seventy-one of the city’s 80 (villages) have confirmed infections. Whether cases are increasing or “flattening” is too early to say. In the province of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu City, on the other hand, new cases are showing an upward trend (DoH figures). If we compare the average daily number of new cases during the first week of June with the last week of the month, Cebu province went from 17 to 62. On July 3, the province had 121 new cases for a total of 1,437. One hundred twenty-one is the highest single daily count of new infections. Lapu-Lapu City had an average of six new cases per day during the second week of June but a daily average of 40 on the last week.
In early June, only few of Cebu’s local government units (LGUs) reported Covid-19 cases. Since June 17, the number of LGUs reporting new cases on a daily basis has not been below 11. Nearly all 44 municipalities have recorded infections. One can see an upward trend in number of cases reported by the LGUs, reflecting the all too familiar pattern of the spread of Covid-19.
Many infections have been “imported” by frontliners or employees who work in Metro Cebu or by individuals who sought medical attention in the city. But majority of new cases now appears to be the result of community transmission.
As infections in Cebu province increase, the number of patients needing critical care and hospitalization will also rise. Metro Cebu’s hospitals must be ready to receive these patients. While Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has made a mission out of promoting traditional, natural approaches to good health and management of infections, there is little doubt that these remedies are inadequate in preventing and curing Covid-19. The individuals at high risk of a severe outcome if infected are those suffering hypertension, diabetes and heart diseases. Reversing or managing their medical conditions would take more than home remedies. However, taking a long-term perspective, starting the ground work for healthier, more nature-based lifestyle among Cebuanos is welcome.
Farewell to Tony Cuenco
Former Cebu City Second District representative and incumbent Cebu City Councilor Antonio “Tony” Cuenco became one of Cebu City’s latest victims of the treacherous coronavirus disease. His untimely passing is a stark reminder to us, his fellow Cebuanos, that Covid cares nothing for history or prominence. Tony Cuenco was an institution in Cebu politics. An era has come to an end with his death. I remember with fondness Tony’s love for Cebuano poetry, his kindness and engagement, his humor — not to mention the many lunches my late husband Cerge and I took at the Cuenco residence. A pillar has fallen.