Quarantine restrictions up as ECQ is imposed in Cebu City

June 17 ------ A strict home quarantine rule and operations of only essential industries are among the restrictions that will be implemented in Cebu City under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to stem the coronavirus outbreak. Cebu City has been reverted to ECQ, the highest of the four-level quarantine classification, from the more relaxed general community quarantine (GCQ) due to the alarming rise in coronavirus cases and critical care utilization, according to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque.

The strict quarantine restrictions in Cebu City will be implemented from June 16 to June 30. “Ang buhay ECQ po para sa aking mga kababayan sa Cebu, ang pupuwede lang na mag-operate ay iyong mga indispensible industries na may kinalaman po sa pagkain, agrikultura at iyong mga export-oriented business, kasama na po ang BPOs. Now, mayroon din pong ilang mga bangko na kinakailangan nakabukas (In the ECQ life for our countrymen in Cebu City, only indispensable industries related to food, agriculture as well as export-oriented businesses such as BPOs are allowed to operate. Banks may also operate),” Roque said during a Palace press briefing Tuesday.

“Sa syudad ng Cebu, ibig sabihin ay talagang stay home na naman tayong lahat except for sa kinakailangan nating indispensable and iba pa nating supplies (In Cebu City, it means we must stay home except for essential or indispensable needs and other supplies),” he said. Roque shed light on President Duterte’s decision on ECQ classification of Cebu City, citing crucial health factors were taken into consideration. He said the cases of coronavirus in Cebu City soared to 2,810 as of June 14, from 2,417 last June 10 and 1,749 last May 31. Cebu City is considered a high-risk area after its case doubling time reached 6.63 days.

So far, Roque said 61 of 80 barangays are affected with the coronavirus cases. At least 13 are considered worst hit barangays. “The numbers in Cebu City are now alarming. They have exceeded the numbers of COVID cases in Quezon City on a per day basis meaning they now have the highest of COVID cases in the country,” Roque said over CNN Philippines Tuesday morning. He noted that the critical care capacity of Cebu City has reached “dangerous level” meaning they don’t have enough beds for critically ill patients.

Roque said 45 percent of the 60 mechanical ventilators are used, 100 percent of the 27 intensive care units utilized, 90 percent of 399 isolation used, and 93 percent of 133 bed wards utilized. The testing positive rate of Cebu City has reached 33 percent to 36 percent or 4 out of 10 tested in Cebu City are positive, according to Roque. Roque acknowledged that Cebu must impose anew “very stringent border patrols” to curb the spread of the disease. He likewise appealed for the cooperation of the residents of Cebu City in following the quarantine restrictions to contain the spread of the coronavirus. He said they should take advantage of the ECQ to bring down the cases of infections in the city.

“Alam ko magiging mahirap ang buhay ninyo sa susunod na dalawang linggo pero wala na po tayong alternatibo. Wala pang vaccine, wala pang gamot so tanggapin na lang po natin na ito lang po ang tanging pamamaraan para malabanan natin ang COVID-19 (I know your lives will be difficult in the next two weeks but we have no other alternative. There is no vaccine yet, no cure so let us accept this as means to fight COVID-19),” he said.

In an earlier television interview, Roque admitted that he was “very alarmed” by the situation in Cebu City but remained hopeful it could still be managed. “I’m very alarmed. I think what happened was there were really many cases in the—in particular, barrios and perhaps what they should have done was to declare a complete lockdown for these barangays. But you know, it did not happen and now it has spread throughout the city,” he said over CNN Philippines Tuesday. “We’re hoping that it is still manageable and that is why we’re hoping that everyone in Cebu will cooperate and that the city government considers further more stringent lockdowns on the affected barangays,” he said.

On whether the poor families will receive another round of emergency subsidy from the government, Roque said he will clarify the matter but he expects some assistance will be given since they cannot resume their normal livelihood.

Source: mb.com.ph