Environment Secretary and now Cebu City COVID-19 overseeing official Roy Cimatu summoned more security forces for the enforcement of quarantine measures in in Cebu City. Three hundred sixty special action force commandos and police officers will be deployed.
The official’s marching order is to strictly implement ECQ, “Implement the total lockdown…We have to do this in order to slow down the effect of COVID here in Cebu City.”
Cimatu has identified the 12 focus areas considered as COVID-19 hotspot areas including Sambag II, Kamputhaw, Sambag 1, Basak San Nicolas, Mabolo, Guadalupe, Lahug, Duljo Fatima, Tinago, Tisa, Ermita, and Tejero.
“Kung mayroon lang category na mas malakas pa sa lockdown, ‘yon ang i-implement… We have to prevent paglabas ng tao rito sa other areas para hindi mahawaan (If there is a category stronger than lockdown, it would be implemented. We have to prevent people from going outside to prevent transmission),” Cimatu said.
Meanwhile, the local government of Cebu City recommended to the IATF having a new scheme for residents purchasing essential items.
“A certain barangay, they are only allowed to get out on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays. So not all will go out of their respective household),” Mayor Edgardo Labella said.
As of June 24, 2020, the total confirmed COVID-19 cases in Cebu City has reached 4,539, while there are 2,242 recoveries, and 100 deaths. – Report from Cleizl Pardilla
