The next quarantine protocol for Cebu City

From August 16, what do you think will be the next quarantine decision for Cebu City? Will it remain on GCQ? Or will it ease up or tighten?

The answer will depend on guidelines that decision-makers have been following till now.

As these guidelines have never been clearly publicized and disseminated to the public, we can only hope the officials have followed and are following clear guidelines.

We also hope the guidelines are evidence-based, with clear, reliable, truthful data showing the COVID cases and various health indexes, for example, the rate of spread and positivity, among others, across a comparative and reasonable period of time.

Also, we hope the guidelines have been discussed thoroughly and agreed upon, not only by government and military, but by health/medical, business/industry, academe, church/religious, other sectors, including representatives from labor, informal sector, communities and civil society groups.

We hope the guidelines have been reviewed, studied and agreed upon with multisectoral collaboration and participation.

We also hope the guidelines are able to strike the best balance benefitting all, not just one sector. We also hope the guidelines consider short, medium, long-term impacts for people, the communities, the environment as well.

Until now, we hope the lessons from past quarantine protocols have been considered seriously. For example, we know now that no one quarantine policy can apply to all areas. The quarantine protocols have to be sensitive and mindful of the truthful multidimensional situationer of regions, provinces, cities, municipalities and sitios as well.

If DOH and DOH-7 data are accurate, thankfully, the number of new COVID cases for Cebu City have been progressively decreasing in the early days of August. From June and July’s three-digit numbers to two-digit numbers, only 11 new cases were reported for August 10.

We sincerely pray this IS the real present situation in Cebu City, that new cases are declining, that the virus is moving more slowly now.

Data shared by Dr. Peter Cayton of UPD Resilience Institute showed that for Cebu, from July 16 to July 30, 2020, Rt (reproduction number) is less than 1.  If the reproduction number can stay below 1 for at least 14 days, he said, Cebu may consider loosening quarantine policies.

However, Dr. Cayton cautioned: “Huwag lang po sana maulit yung pagtaas sa Cebu noon po.”

Cebu City may also consider a more lenient quarantine protocol but as the virus is still here and the situation remaining fragile, it is better to remain cautious and vigilant when deciding on the next quarantine protocol this August 16.

Will Cebu City remain on GCQ or MGCQ? Or will the quarantine protocol be more lenient or stricter for certain barangays and sitios? Abangan.

MGCQ requires compliance for the same minimum public health standards but allows all persons outside their residence and private transportation. Higher education institutions are allowed to have face-to-face classes but with strict compliance to minimum health standards. HEI activities that involve mass gathering of students are still prohibited.

MGCQ allows public gatherings provided the participants shall be limited to 50 percent of the venue or seating capacity. MGCQ allows physical reporting in full capacity for government workers, with alternative arrangements for those 60 and above, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidities, or other health risks, and pregnant women.

Depending on Cebu City’s next quarantine status, starting August 16, penalties or jail await violations that include “not wearing masks in public, going out without a quarantine pass or without authorization, public gathering more than the allowable number of people, failure to practice social distancing in vehicles and public places, and failure to uphold these guidelines in owned or operated establishments.”