City achieves ‘herd immunity’

CEBU, Philippines —  With more than 800,000 residents already vaccinated against COVID-19, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama declared the city has achieved “herd immunity”.

He expressed optimism that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) will further deescalate the city’s alert level status as the national task force is expected to announce the new classification today. Cebu City is under alert level 2 until March 15.  

“I’ve been always hopeful, in fact, when I declared liberation…freedom with shared responsibility…It’s always been based on Science,” said Rama.

On February 24, during the Charter Day celebration of Cebu City, Rama lifted all restrictions except curfew for minors. The decision was based on the improved data of COVID-19 cases in the city.

As of yesterday, the city only has 131 active cases with 34 of its 80 barangays reported no transmission of the virus. The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) also noted a decrease in the number of fatalities having recorded only five deaths since March 1.

Like Rama, EOC deputy chief implementer and Councilor Joel Garganera is also optimistic of the city’s de-escalation to alert level 1.

“Ako, I am very optimistic nga by the 15th of this month we will be de-escalated to a much lower alert level, but then be that as it may we just have to prepare ourselves," said Garganera.

He said the Cebu City Sports Commission has already forwarded to the EOC the guidelines regarding the conduct of sporting events in the city as well as the Archdiocese of Cebu for religious activities in line with the observance of the Holy Week.

“Sa pagkakaron si John Pages just forward(ed) me the guidelines regarding sports and then kamo nakadawat na sad mo sa akong gihatag nga guidelines pud sa Archdiocese, so basically good nata,” said Garganera.

The city officials, however, urged the public, especially those who have not been vaccinated yet, to get inoculated against COVID-19.

“We will continue with the pabakuna sa atong mga ginganlan og Pedia and we will continue whoever will be willing para magpabakuna, pabakuna, dili nata anang ginganlan nato og no vaccination, no entry, wala na, that’s no longer what is the rule, the rule all are open basta lang amping,” Rama said.

Visayas Vaccination Operations Center (VVOC) spokesperson Dr. Mary Jean Loreche also said that based on the healthcare capacity utilization rate, Immunization rate, number of cases, and the number of fully vaccinated for the general population, Cebu City and the rest of Central Visayas have good chances of deescalating to lower classification, although some local government units still need to address their senior citizens vaccination coverage. — FPL (FREEMAN)