Cagayan de Oro City is intensifying its strategy to combat the increasing number of reported COVID-19 cases since April due to social gatherings and public drinking sessions.
“Marami doon sa mga kaso emanated from birthdays, gatherings, parties. Maraming fiesta rito, not in Cagayan de Oro, but elsewhere – mga reunions, summer, pagpunta sa beach,” CDO Mayor Oscar Moreno said in the Laging Handa briefing on May 24.
The local government said it has intensified its contact tracing efforts and the expansion of hospital beds and temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMFs). This is on top of the imposed 9:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. curfew.
CDO has also requested additional COVID-19 doses from the national government.
“Sumulat ako, and salamat naman si Secretary Galvez nag-react kaagad. He assured us they will look into the needs of the city,” he said.
Malacañang said there is a possibility of imposing tightened restrictions in the area if cases continue to increase. It also assured preparedness to deploy additional health workers if needed.
“Bagamat ang quarantine classification po ay monthly, may mga lugar na inilagay na po sa higher quarantine classification… at hindi na po natin hihintayin ang meeting ng IATF,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in his public briefing.
“Bukod sa higher quarantine classification, nandiyan po ‘yung mga additional testing na pwedeng ipadala roon, additional vaccines na pwedeng ipadala sa mga lugar na ito,” he added.
As of May 23 evening, the city has 147 new cases, seven newly recorded deaths, and 1,006 active cases. – Report from Louisa Erispe/AG-jlo
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