Cebu lifts curfew hours

MANILA, Philippines — Curfew hours in Cebu province have been lifted.

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia issued Executive Order 5 on Friday night lifting the 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew ”effective immediately.”

However, curfew hours still apply to those below 18 years old, except when they are accompanied by their parents or for essential reasons.

“With the declining COVID-19 cases in the province, increased vaccination coverage, continued implementation of minimum public health standards and in view of economic considerations, the provincial government finds it prudent to lift its curfew limitations within the province of Cebu during the implementation of Alert Level 2 in order to begin the shift toward the new normal,”  the EO read.

Data from the Department of Health Central Visayas office showed that Cebu logged 1,069 active cases as of Friday from a high of 4,412 on Feb. 1.

The province exceeded the 50 percent vaccination target with 1,492,674 doses administered for the first shot and 1,304,043  for the second dose.

Mandaue City is the first local government unit in the province that lifted curfew hours except for minors.

The local governments of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu cities have yet to decide on whether or not to retain curfew hours in their respective areas.