Basilica priests, staff under quarantine

The priests and personnel of the Basilica del Santo Niño de Cebu have been placed under quarantine after suspected COVID-19 cases were detected inside the convent.

All the friars and staff staying at the convent were already subjected to a swab test, according to a CBCP News report published online yesterday.

But results are yet to be released by the Cebu City Health Department (CCHD).

Fr. Andres Rivera Jr., the prior provincial of the Augustinian Province of Cebu, said the suspected COVID-19 cases were detected on May 25.

“While waiting for the test results, all friars and personnel are being quarantined within the basilica convent,” Rivera said in an advisory posted on the official Facebook page of basilica.

With this, Rivera said, the basilica will remain closed until further notice.

He said though the faithful can take part in the online mass through the basilica's Facebook page.

“As of this moment, we are in constant coordination with the city health officials as well as with the barangay officials,” he said.

“With their help and guidance, we ensure the public that everything is properly managed and there shall no cause for further alarm and distress,” he added.

NEW CASES, RECOVERIES

Meanwhile, Cebu City has logged more recoveries than new COVID-19 cases yesterday.

CCHD announced that the recoveries in the city have reached to 166 cases or 44 percent. This brings the total number of recoveries to 958.

Of the 166, Barangay Mambaling got the most number of recoveries at 149.

Barangay Tejero has 12 recoveries, while Barangay Guadalupe has five.

The CCHD attributed the increase in recoveries to the close monitoring of infected patients.

"We believe this is a result from the close monitoring by our health personnel, isolation, and selfdiscipline by our patients," read the CCHD's Facebook post.

On the other hand, there are 60 new COVID-19 cases registered yesterday.

Of the 60, 14 are from Barangay Duljo-Fatima; seven from Barangay Mabolo; six from Barangay Mambaling; and five from Barangay Tejero.

The other cases are from barangays Pasil, three; Ermita, three; Tisa, three; Suba, two; Sawang Calero, two; Lorega, two; Sambag 2, two; Tinago, two; and Carreta, two.

Also, one new case each from barangays Camputhaw, Labangon, Pardo, Lahug, Quiot, Calamba, and an unverified place.

As of yesterday, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the city is 2,202.