DOH-Central Visayas: Daily COVID-19 cases in Cebu City now lower

CEBU CITY –– New cases of the coronavirus here have dwindled following the implementation of strict quarantine measures since last month.

Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, spokesperson of the Department of Health in Central Visayas, said the daily number of infections has reduced from 150 to 200 in previous weeks to below 100.

“As reflected in our number of cases, we are somehow correct in where we are and what we are doing. We get to see the impact of the measures we are putting in place now,” she said.

Loreche attributed the reduction in the number of new cases to the re-implementation of the enhanced community quarantine last June 16.

She said residents now understand the need to follow health protocols such as wearing face masks, staying at home, and observance of physical distancing to contain the spread of the virus.

“I hope it (lower number of cases) will continue to be like that. I hope we can control the transmission of the virus,” Loreche said.

At present, COVID-19 testing in Cebu has decreased from 2,000 to 1,000 after machines at the Cebu TB Reference Laboratory bogged down.

The facilities of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center Subnational Laboratory and the ARC Hospital, nonetheless, continue to fully function.

As of July 18, Cebu City has registered 86 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of infections to 8,072 with 4,420 recoveries and 411 deaths.

LZB