This Week in Cebu and Bohol (December 5 to 11, 2021)

Cinemas in Cebu and Bohol welcome back moviegoers

By: Mira Maestrecampo | December 05, 2021

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The national government has imposed a temporary suspension of travel entry of fully vaccinated travelers to prevent the newly mutated Omicron variant. The country has immediately imposed travel restrictions just recently after the news of the spread of the Omicron variant. In recent updates, the Philippines has subjected travelers to respective quarantine protocols upon arrival, depending on the passenger’s COVID-19 test result. There are canceled plans on December 1 to 15, suspending foreign travelers’ entry from countries on the green list, even if they are fully vaccinated. [1]

The Omicron variant raised alerts to both the government and the medical sectors, thus the temporary travel ban and the recommendation of the prescription of the anti-COVID pill. The government still aims to increase vaccination coverage for those who have yet to receive their jabs.

On the other hand, cinema houses, including malls, are set to reopen in Cebu, while in Bohol, movie houses are now operational.

Travel News: A sudden ban on international travel

The Philippines has added some countries to the “red list”, including Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, and Hungary. Travelers from these countries are banned from entering the country until December 15.

Other travelers are subject to quarantine protocols upon arrival in any area in the Philippines, including Cebu and Bohol.

The newly existing Omicron variant in other countries has provoked alerts to the national government, with the authorities now reimposing quarantine protocols.

As of to date, the country has not yet tallied any cases of this emerging variant. [2]

This Week in Cebu and Bohol (December 5 to 11, 2021), cebu and bohol

Mall Updates: Cinema houses officially reopen in Cebu and Bohol

Five cinema houses in Cebu can formally reopen their doors to Cebuano moviegoers. SM Seaside City’s Director’s Club, two cinemas in Ayala Center-Cebu, and two cinemas at Central Bloc at the IT Park in Barangay Apas are the cinema houses that have been given the authority to resume operations after almost two years of closure. [3]

Cebu City Emergency Operations Center Deputy Chief Implementer and City Councilor Joel Garganera said that it is up to these movie houses’ respective owners and managers when they can officially be open to the public. Before this authorization, Garganera assures that inspections were made and safety protocols are ensured to be in place.

These cinemas must have good airflow, widely opened doors, and there should also be exhaust fans. There is also monitoring of the CO2 level using the non-dispersive infrared process (NDIR) tool, as recommended by the Emergency Operations Center.

On the other hand, Bohol cinemas are now operational specifically in Alturas, Bohol Quality, and Island City.

In addition to this, only fully vaccinated cinema-goers are allowed to enter.

Aside from the leisure of seeing the latest films on the big screen, Cebu has also opened weekend markets in a more laid-back environment, where residents can experience good food and a pleasing lifestyle: Aduna Lifestyle Fair at 32 Sanson by Rockwell, opening from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM; buy locally made and fresh picks at Saturday Farmer’s Market at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM; Holidaze Pop-Up Weekend Market at IL Corso from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM; and the Sugbo Mercado’s Christmas Bazaar at Cebu Business Park that opens from 4:00 PM to 10:30 PM. [4]

This Week in Cebu and Bohol (December 5 to 11, 2021), travel

Vaccination Updates: High vaccination rates, administering of booster shots

The city government’s conscious efforts through vaccination campaigns and vaccination drives have significantly affected the downtrend of the COVID-19 active cases in Cebu, according to a Department of Health – Central Visayas official as the number of vaccination recipients increases, so as the number of cases has dropped.

The Visayas Vaccination Operations Center has shown that 59% of the city residents are now fully vaccinated. [7]

Meanwhile, in Metro Cebu, more than 40,000 people have been inoculated during the first day of the three-day National COVID-19 Vaccination from November 29 to December 1.

Booster shots or booster vaccines shall be administered to fully vaccinated individuals starting this December 2021. Cebu City Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia said that job order workers would also get an incentive once they get themselves vaccinated, along with regular and casual workers who shall also receive Christmas bonuses once they are vaccinated. [8]

Bohol is struggling to increase the vaccination rate in their area. In Bohol, fully vaccinated individuals are still at 34.34% as of the last week of November. Still, with the National Vaccination Day held, the government hopes to add a significant number of vaccinated residents in the province.

Health News: Cebu City prepares for Omicron variant

Cebu City’s Emergency Operations Center desires the city government and hospitals to act on stocking up anti-COVID medicines in anticipation of the newly emerged Omicron variant. The World Health Organization has dubbed the Omicron variant as a “variant of concern”.

The medicinal pill is called the Molnupiravir, developed by Merck & Co Inc. and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP. This pill is not yet commercially available here in the country. The Food and Drugs Administration grants a Compassionate Special Permit to a selected number of local drug and healthcare companies in the country, now made into a memorandum of agreement with government offices for distribution to patients.

QualiMed Health Network is in a memorandum of agreement with the Office of the Vice President. QualiMed will supply the former’s beneficiaries of the Bayanihan E-Konsulta with a prescription. [10]


Visit Yoorekka Magazine for more travel and COVID-19 updates and guidelines in Metro Manila!


All details and information in this article are true and accurate as of the publication date. However, while we are making our utmost effort to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the condition surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be unpredictable, and the situation develops rapidly. Hence, some information and recommendations may have changed since this article was published. For the latest advice, visit DOH and your LGU's official websites.



Sources:
[1] https://s.nikkei.com/3EkuBjO
[2] https://bit.ly/3pdpKdK
[3] https://bit.ly/3ocXjgJ
[4] https://bit.ly/3lulNR8
[5] https://bit.ly/3lrGKvW
[6] https://bit.ly/3DailAV
[7] https://bit.ly/3pndS9l
[8] https://bit.ly/3Ev77sx
[9] https://bit.ly/3lsdo0e
[10] https://bit.ly/3EigF9V


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About Mira Maestrecampo

Mira - with a long surname - is a girl who dreams of becoming a news anchor someday, in God's perfect time. She loves to read books and eat different kinds of cheesy or saucy food. A coffee addict and a dog lover, she loves long hugs, hot coffee on an afternoon break with friends, or simply sleeping all day with her stuffed unicorns.

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Disclaimer: All articles in the Consumers Magazine of Yoorekka are for general information and entertainment purposes only. Although careful research has been made in writing them, Yoorekka does not make any warranty about the completeness and accuracy of all information presented in our articles. Our content is not intended to be used in place of legal, medical, or any professional advice.