This Week in Cebu (January 3 to 9, 2021)

After suspending the use of quarantine passes during the holidays, Mayor Edgardo Labella resumed the system and mandated residents to carry passes when they go out. The Cebu City mayor also reminded Cebuanos to follow the 11:00 PM to 4:00 AM curfew in the city. Furthermore, Joel Garganera, the deputy chief implementer of Cebu’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), reminded the public not to lower their guard as COVID-19 transmission is unavoidable [1].

Cebu City welcomes the year with zero coronavirus cases in 55 villages based on the information from EOC. Since the city has 80 barangays, this means that there are still 25 barangays that have active cases. Data also shows that the city has an 8.89 percent positivity rate out of the 121,140 persons tested and a 92.95 percent recovery rate [2].

This year’s Sinulog Festival in Cebu City will push through despite the threat of a new variant of COVID-19. The annual event will be held on January 17 at SM Seaside City but with limitations: only 20 entries are allowed for the grand ritual showdown and will only be open to Cebu province residents. According to Joy Pesquera, the executive chair of Sinulog, that there will be no live audience during the actual showdown but a live feed. COVID-19 testing for each participant is also being considered by the organizers since there is a new coronavirus strain [3].

Mayor Edgardo Labella had a conversation with COVID-19 Policy Chief Implementer and Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez Jr. about the purchasing of vaccines. According to Galvez, a tripartite agreement between the national government, local government units (LGU), and suppliers is necessary if the city wants to purchase COVID-19 vaccines on their own. Galvez also stressed the importance of the agreement to avoid dealings by suppliers from the black market and to secure that the products are not counterfeit [4].

Go to Yoorekka for more COVID-19 updates in Cebu.