COVID-19 in Metro Cebu: Latest situation and developments

For almost a week, Cebu City has not recorded any COVID-19 related deaths.

Reported COVID-19 infections have also dropped significantly. According to the November 1 data from the city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Cebu City has a total of 216 active cases.

The city recorded six additional cases on the same day out of the 281 tested for a positivity rate of 2.14%, well below the 5% threshold set by the World Health Organization for areas with manageable cases of COVID-19.

Cebu City councilor Joel Garganera, the EOC head, pointed out that 45 of 80 of the city’s barangays have not recorded any transmission of the coronavirus disease over the last 14 days. 

Fully vaccinated travelers no longer have to present a negative RT-PCR result, a negative antigen test, or a medical certificate to enter Cebu province.

This was mandated by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia in a memorandum to mayors, the provincial police, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authorities, and to all airline and ship operators. 

“Instead, fully vaccinated persons shall be required to present their vaccination cards or vaccination certificates as proof of vaccination,” the document, signed on Friday, October 29, read.

About 80% of the faculty and non-teaching staff in eight pilot schools for face-to-face classes have already been vaccinated, while some are still waiting for their vaccination schedules.

This is according to the Department of Education (DepEd)-Central Visayas Regional Director Salustiano Jimenez.

All eight of the schools in Central Visayas who passed the risk assessment for the pilot run of face-to-face classes in November are within Cebu Island.

“Last week, I went to Bantayan Island, yesterday, Balamban, and today, Bogo City,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez told Rappler that DepEd is now closely coordinating with local government units, the Department of Health, and other nongovernment stakeholders in preparation for the first – albeit limited – physical reopening of basic education schools since the start of the pandemic. 

The COVID-19 task force (IATF) denied Cebu City’s appeal to keep cemeteries open during “Kalag-Kalag” (All Souls/All Saints Day) celebration from October 29 to November 2. 

“They have denied our exemption,” acting Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama told reporters during a press conference on Tuesday evening.

Read the full story here.

Domestic travelers bound for Cebu who are fully vaccinated no longer need to undergo COVID-19 tests, Acting Mayor Michael Rama said in a directive on Monday, October 25.

Rama’s Directive No. 10-25-01, which took effect immediately, requires fully-vaccinated inbound travelers to only present either their official vaccination card with QR code or their official vaccination certificate (in the absence of QR codes in their cards) and a valid ID in lieu of negative COVID-19 test results.

Read the full story here.