CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City’s COVID-19 situation continues to improve with only nine new cases on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, giving a 1.66 percent daily positivity rate.
The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) data showed that there were 541 individuals tested on the said day.
As of Wednesday, the city has recorded total active cases of 120 providing a total positivity rate of 9.26 percent.
The total recoveries are 39,848 after recording 16 additional recoveries.
For the month of November, there are seven total reported deaths so far.
Councilor Joel Garganera, EOC deputy chief implementer, also disclosed that 49 out of the city’s 80 barangays have reported no transmission for the last 14 days.
“Ang atong BIC (barangay isolation center) luag na kaayo, ang atong mga hotels. In fact, I just talked with some of our accredited hotels nga nag-cater sa gipang-quarantine nato. Niingon sila nga ‘moundang nalang mi’ kay wa nama’y pasyente, so pwede nasad sila modawat og katong mga arrivals kay labi na padung sa holiday daghan baya mangabotay,” said Garganera.
“On the other hand, they can also accommodate staycation. I talked with them yesterday, I told them yes why not but if the time, God forbid, mosaka (ang cases), dali ra mo maka-reboot to accommodate, so wa’y problema. They are ready nga mo-open dayon if the need arises,” he added.
There are eight accredited hotels in the city that cater to COVID-19 patients who do not want to be quarantined in BICs or whose house is not fit for home isolation.
Garganera said the hotel could start to accommodate other clients until such time that their last patient ends his/her quarantine there.
The councilor said it is “everybody’s effort” on why the city is experiencing a continuous drop of COVID-19 cases.
“It’s everybody’s effort. Kay bisa’g unsaon pag-implementar nato ug ang tawo dili mokooperar, di gyud,” he said.
Garganera has acknowledged the big contribution of the medical frontliners, enforcers, as well as establishments in the ongoing fight against COVID-19.
He mentioned that establishments are helping the government by having their employees vaccinated, citing a certain mall in the city wherein its organic personnel are 100 percent vaccinated.
“This ba, that will give confidence on the part of the customers to go inside this particular area nga knowing that they are served with fully vaccinated (personnel),” said Garganera.
Garganera reminds the public to remain compliant of the health protocols and avoid being complacent.
The EOC will constantly revisit establishments to make sure that they never lower their guards, especially going towards the holiday season. — GMR (FREEMAN)