The Cebu City government has ordered the arrest of individuals refusing to be swabbed, especially those who had close contact with COVID-19 patients.
It has been reported that two fire volunteers in the city who had a close contact with a COVID-19 positive patient refused to have their swab samples taken.
“For two consecutive times our contact tracing teams and swabbers approached and they refused to be swabbed… If these two will still refuse, then we will arrest them, because to me, the health and safety of our citizens are primordial,” Cebu City IATF Deputy Chief Implementer Councilor Joel Garganera warned.
“This time, there will [be] no more second chance, there will [be] no more second chance, we will arrest… because urgency is the name of the game here…We will arrest those that are [refusing] to be swabbed,” he continued.
The Department of Health (DOH) in Region 7 is encouraging the public not to fear COVID-19 testing to ensure the safety of people around them.
“We continue to encourage the people to be not afraid to have themselves tested, dahil that’s the only way na makita talaga natin ang ating (because that is the only way for us to see the) true picture, that by subjecting themselves sa (to) testing, they are able to protect themselves and their loved ones, and their families,” DOH 7 Spokesperson Dr. Mary Jane Loreche explained.
Cebu City currently has 335 active cases from the 9,692 total confirmed cases. A total of 8,699 patients have recovered while 658 have died. Meanwhile, the Philippines has 245,143 total confirmed cases as of September 9, including 55,614 that are active. At least 185,543 have recuperated while 3,986 succumbed to the disease. – Report from John Aroa
