By Anthony Giron
IMUS CITY, Cavite – For the fourth straight day in Cavite province, the number of those who recovered from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outpaced those who contracted the virus.
This was the observation made by Cavite Governor Juanito Victor Remulla on Wednesday, May 6.
"Ito na ang pang-apat na araw diretso na mas nalamang ang gumagaling kaysa nagkakasakit," said the governor, referring to the three cases new cases and six recoveries recorded on Wedneday, May 6.
(This is the fourth day straight that there were more recoveries than affliction)
He also gave an update on Tuesday, May 5, that the province already had 200 COVID-19 cases, with 52 recoveries and 23 fatalities.
Remulla said the recoveries outnumbering the new cases in the provinces was a welcome development that could be attributed to the determination and action of the authorities and concerned citizens to avert the virus from spreading further.
Cavite, with eight districts comprising seven cities and 16 municipalities, is the most densely populated province in Luzon.
A report from the Department of Health (DoH) showed that Cavite was the third with the least number of COVID-19 cases in Region IV-A or Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) area.
On top of the Center for Health Development-Region IV-A's list was Rizal then Laguna, (second), Cavite on third, and Batangas and Quezon in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Calabarzon, a populated area, is in the south of the National Capital Region.
Remulla sees the early and stricter government-implemented enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) as a big factor in preventing COVID-19 from spreading further.
But still, the governor underscored that there was nothing to be complacent about, and no one should let his guard down since the fight against COVID-19 is far from over.
“Curve is Flat? Malayo pa ang laban natin sa Covid. Sa Pilipinas ay malapit na umabot sa 10,000 ang may COVID-19. Sa Cavite ay mas maganda ang kalagayan (n)atin ngayon kaysa tatlong linggo nakaraan. Ang bilang natin ngayon ay: 1. 200 positive 2. 52 recovered 3. 23 deaths. Kung tutusin ay 125 na lang ang positive/active cases natin,” he posted on his Facebook page Tuesday.
(Curve is Flat? Our fight against COVID-19 is still far from over. In the Philippines, nearly 10,000 have COVID-19. The developments in Cavite are getting better than it was three weeks ago. Our case numbers are as follows: 1. 200 positive cases 2. 52 recovered 3. 23 deaths. In variation, we have only 125 positive/ active cases)
Remulla added: "Babala: 1. Maganda ang naging epekto ng maaga at mahigpit na ECQ sa atin. 2. Ang Cavite ay katabi ng Metro Manila. Ibig sabihin na pag mag GCQ at ang iba ay payagan na bumalik sa trabaho sa. Maynila ay ang pag-kalat muli ng Covid ay mataas."
(Warning: The effects of the early and strict ECQ are well on us. 2. Cavite is beside Metro Manila. This means that with the turn to GCQ (general community quarantine) and the others will be allowed returning to Metro Manila, the chances of COVID-19 spread will be high.)
Remulla placed the entire Cavite in what he called “calibrated community quarantine” (CCQ) with the implementation of the May 1 to 15 extended extension.
Under the CCQ, the 24-hour curfew, mandatory wearing of face masks, the policy on social distancing, health check and other rules are being enforced strictly by the authorities in the two weeks-extended ECQ.