Stricter health and quarantine restrictions are now being implemented in various localities amid increasing cases and growing hospital utilization occupancy rates.
Month-long extended curfew hours and liquor ban have been implemented beginning July 26 in Cebu City, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu City. Current protocols allow accommodation establishments to serve liquor to their in-house guests.
Curfew hours were also expanded from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. in the said cities, but authorized persons outside residence (APORs) remain exempted from the protocol.
The conduct of several sports events and non-essential gatherings were also suspended for one month.
“This is in response sa ating sitwasyon ngayon. Ang ating mga hospitals medyo overwhelmed na talaga,” Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera, Emergency Operation Center chief, said.
“Hindi lang dapat lagi ang pagpapalaki ng kapasidad ng ating mga ospital ang ating ginagawa, lalo na [dapat] ang kakulangan sa mga personnel ng mga ospital. We should have drastic measures,” Garganera added.
James Sayson, Lapu-Lapu City COVID-19 vaccination chief, said the temporary imposition of restrictions is to prevent the reversion to “higher restrictions,” as there was an increase of COVID-19 cases in the past days.
Mandaue’s contact tracing head Julius Entise said they also favor the stricter protocol implementation in the city, as they have noticed “that people are no longer observing the minimum health standards.”
Lapu-Lapu City government said it is evaluating a proposal allowing only vaccinated individuals in public and private markets such as department stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores starting August 25.
Department of Health (DOH) July 26 data show that Cebu City has 2,174 active COVID-19 cases, Lapu-Lapu City has 972, Mandaue has 733, and Cebu province has 1,931. – Report from John Aroa/PTV Cebu/AG-rir
Watch full report here:
