Cebu City recorded its lowest daily positivity rate of 1.38% on Wednesday, October 20.  The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) here said only 14 tested positive out of the 1,309 individuals swabbed. A total of 31 of the 80 barangays in the city have reported zero transmission over the past 14 days.

Cebu City councilor Joel Garganera, EOC head, said their department is now looking to boost the city’s vaccination rate. “Atong vaccination drive ato gyud tabangan kay medyo layo pa ta sa atong desired target. Mas momaayo ang atong pasko ug bag-ong tuig ug bakunado natang tanan,” he said.

(We will help out in the vaccination drive as we are currently a bit far from our target. Christmas and New Year will be better spent once we are all vaccinated.)

This development came two months after the city saw its highest surge of COVID-19 cases back in August, with hospitals reaching critical capacity. The city is now under Alert Level 2, opening it up to more lenient restrictions in terms of non-essential establishments and leisure activities. – Rappler.com

In a statement to media on Monday, October 18, Cebu City councilor Joel Garganera, Emergency Operations Center head, said a plan to reopen cinemas and amusement activities is still subject to the assumption that COVID-19 cases in the city will remain low by the end of the month.

“This is part of our effort to revive the economy and movie industry while also studying its conduciveness especially on whether the public can self-regulate themselves with minimal governmental supervision,” he said.

Cebu City’s biggest spike in COVID-19 cases happened only in August. This was later contained by the end of the same month. The city’s number of new cases per day began lowering in the early parts of September.

Both Lapu-Lapu City and Mandaue City announced they would close cemeteries from October 31 to November 2.

Under Executive Order No. 2021-054 issued by Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan, visits before and after the closure will be allowed at 30% venue capacity in accordance with the city’s set visitation schedules.

Meanwhile, under Executive Order No. 35 issued by Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, said visits before and after the closure would be limited to a maximum of 50% of the venue capacity.

Cebu City, on the other hand, is currently finalizing plans for an “extended” undas. –Rappler.com

Parents and guardians of children aged 12 to 17 years old can now register them for vaccinations.

In a press conference on Monday, October 11, the city announced that it would prioritize children with comorbidities. Parents will be required to present the medical certificates of their children.

“We are still waiting for guidelines from the Department of Health (DOH) on the vaccination of minors,” said Dr. Jeffrey Ibones, head of Cebu City Health Department.

At present, minors are not allowed outside of their homes due to guidelines crafted by the IATF. However, City Councilor Joel Garganera, deputy chief implementer of the city’s Emergency Operations Center, reassured the public that minors would be allowed outside of their homes for as long as it is for the purpose of getting vaccinated.