Spike in Cebu COVID-19 cases due to Delta, public’s laxity, says DOH-7

MANILA, Philippines — Cebu’s lack of border controls in the past months and the laxity of residents in following minimum health standards could have also contributed to the sudden increase in its daily COVID-19 cases, the Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7) said Wednesday.

Apart from the presence of the Delta COVID-19 variant, DOH-7 chief pathologist and COVID-19 Response in Visayas spokesperson Dr. Mary Jean Loreche said the public hasn’t been strictly complying with health protocols given Cebu has been under the most relaxed status or modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

“Considering na 11 months tayo mahigit na MGCQ, ang mga tao kasi para bang nagkaroon na ng COVID fatigue and then very open ang ating mga borders so nawala po masyado yung pagiging strikto nila sa kanilang mga sarili para sundan yung ating tinatawag na public health standards,” Loreche said in a televised briefing.

(Considering we have been under MGCQ for 11 months, the people experienced COVID fatigue and then we have very open borders so their strictness in following public health standards faded away.)

Cebu is under general community quarantine with heightened restrictions until August 15. But its provincial government placed 11 towns and cities under the stricter modified enhanced community quarantine only until this Wednesday.

“Mapapansin rin natin na itong mga may bakuna na, lalong lalo na yung medyo may kabataan pa, nakalimutan nila to be completely vaccinated is not a license for them to be in mass gatherings,” Loreche said.

(We also observed that those who are already vaccinated, especially those who are younger, have forgotten that to be completely vaccinated is not a license for them to be in mass gatherings.)

“Pangatlo po ay yung aming lack of border controls talaga. Para bang bukas na bukas tayo, kahit sino pwede pumasok except ang Cebu City na nagrerequire talaga ng test protocol,” she went on.

(Third is our lack of border controls. It appears that we are so open, anyone can enter except in Cebu City which requires COVID-19 tests prior to entry.)

Earlier, Loreche said it appears that there is local transmission of the Delta variant in Cebu as its 36 cases had no history of travel.

As the cases increase in the region, Central Visayas health officials have appealed to new nursing graduates to help in its COVID-19 response and address the shortage of health workers in Cebu.