A monitoring report released by OCTA Research Group over the weekend showed that Cebu City is in the midst of a severe situation due to the continuous increase of COVID-19 cases.
Data showed that the city’s positivity rate, or the percentage of positive results from samples tested, reached 19%. The hospital bed occupancy in the area also reached 62%, while its intensive care unit (ICU) occupancy rose to 81%.
The hospital bed occupancy in Lapu-Lapu City also reached 100%, while the hospital and ICU bed occupancy of Talisay moved into the critical level.
“Remember, three weeks ago, we’ve already been assuming Delta is now in our midst. We have to take the matter with great challenge and we have to move with utmost aggressiveness,” Cebu City acting Mayor Michael Rama said.
Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue, Talisay, and Liloan were also observed with increasing average daily attack rate (ADAR).
Meanwhile, Cebu City is now looking for areas to be covered into mass burial sites for COVID-19 casualties.
“They are looking at the cemetery diyan sa Brgy. Babag, which is big enough, it can accommodate talaga ng marami, para hindi na tayo maghanap kung sakaling dumating ang maraming mortality,” Councilor Joel Garganera, Cebu City Emergency Operation Center chief, said.
The local government also ordered an investigation into whether the reported increased deaths at home are COVID-related.
“May ilan ang isinailalim sa swab tapos hindi pa lumabas ang result, yes nag-positive. Others are also trying to hide the nature of the patient that leads to his demise,” Garganera said.
Local officials are set to meet for further border control measures. – Report from John Aroa/AG-rir
