President Rodrigo Duterte eased restrictions in Cebu City, placing it under general community quarantine (GCQ) after the city was able to slow down the spread of the virus and decongest the hospitals. (READ: Restrictions eased further as Duterte places Cebu City under GCQ)
This came a month after Cebu City was called a second “epicenter” of the coronavirus pandemic in the Philippines. (READ: [PODCAST] Cebu City: Ang bagong coronavirus hot spot)
Following a dramatic spike in coronavirus cases in Cebu City when it was under GCQ in June, Duterte placed the city on lockdown and sent Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu and retired general Mel Feliciano to oversee the COVID-19 response in Cebu City. (READ: Cimatu brings in troops as he begins battle vs coronavirus in Cebu City)
University of the Philippines researchers said the replication rate in Cebu City dropped from a high of 2 to 1.14 in the month the national government stepped in to oversee the response. This means a person with coronavirus was spreading it to an average of two other people previously. Now it’s down to almost one.
From daily cases by the hundreds for one straight month, Cebu City’s numbers have gone down to double digits.
Now that Cebu City is under GCQ again, and the national government again redirects its focus to Metro Manila, how will Cebu City make sure it won’t backslide and return to a lockdown?
Rappler’s Cebu Bureau Reporter Ryan Macasero speaks to Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera, Deputy Chief Implementer for Cebu City Regional IATF, to discuss lessons learned and the way forward in fighting the virus.
Bookmark this page and tune in on Friday, August 7, at at 10 am to watch. – Rappler.com
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