This Week in Cebu and Bohol (August 15 to 21, 2021)

In Cebu Province, 11 LGUs have been placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) with heightened restrictions for two weeks, starting August 11. [1] These LGUs are Argao and Oslob, Consolacion, Cordova, Liloan, Minglanilla, Sibonga, Samboan, and the cities of Talisay, Naga, and Carcar. The town of San Fernando, which is located between Naga and Carcar, is also on MECQ status.

During the MECQ status, non-essential establishments are prohibited. Relatively, all indoor dine-in services of food preparation establishments have also been halted. On the other hand, access to goods from the permitted business establishments and work establishments shall be allowed in a limited capacity only, provided that the guidelines defined by the government shall be strongly observed.

Because the Delta variant of COVID-19 has recently entered Cebu and Cagayan de Oro, the Bohol Province prohibits all inbound sea, and air travel to Bohol started last August 6 until further notice. This move is the provincial government’s immediate action to prevent the spread of the virus to the entire province. [2]

The entire province will remain under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) to ensure that movement within Bohol will be unhampered.

Because of the increasing confinement of COVID-19 patients, Bohol hospitals are now nearing their full capacity. To keep the healthcare system of the Bohol Province from being overwhelmed, the Bohol IATF, Emergency Operations Center (EOC), and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) joined hands to act upon the situation.

During the joint meeting of the multi-agency task force, 60 out of the 68 COVID-19 ward and isolation beds and 19 intensive care unit (ICU) beds of the only tertiary level hospital in Bohol, the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) were occupied. The GCGMH is the main COVID-19 referral facility in the province. [3]

Other COVID-19 isolation beds from the four Level II hospitals in the province, such as Ace Medical Center Bohol, Ramiro Community Hospital, Tagbilaran Community Hospital, and Holy Name Medical Center, were also occupied.

According to Provincial Administrator Kathyrin Pioquinto, the authority is now looking into a solution should its healthcare system reach its critical situation.

Visit Yoorekka Consumer Magazine for more travel and COVID-19 updates and guidelines in Cebu and Bohol!