School isolation center again?

If the number of new Covid-19 cases will continue to rise, Cebu City has no choice but to reopen Barangay Isolation Centers (BIC).

These BICs refer to three schools namely: Zapatera Elementary School, Mabolo Elementary School and Mambaling Elementary School.

None of these schools, however, meet the required international standard for isolation centers. If hospitals, which regularly undergo disinfection, are equipped with medical staff and maintain health and safety protocol, are not safe for everyone much more schools. No wonder Covid cases skyrocketed in Cebu City last year.

At the height of the pandemic, DENR Secretary General Roy Cimatu, who supervised the Cebu situation, commented that putting up isolation centers within barangays contributed to the increase in the number of cases in the city. These schools are located right in the middle of the barangay, at close proximity to residents.

Instead of public schools, the City Government can use Cebu Coliseums, gymnasiums, hotels or van facilities as isolation centers. It can also add cubicles to some isolation centers or increase the bed capacity of the Noah Complex at South Road Properties

There is a reason for the people to be alarmed about this plan as the new deadly and more contagious coronavirus variant has been detected in at least 60 countries. According to the Department of Health, the number of persons afflicted with the UK variant of the coronavirus hsa now reached 13.

We cannot allow another enhanced community quarantine in the city. We shouldn’t allow history to repeat itself. Authorities should learn from the past.