Cebuanos starting to comply with ECQ protocols – Cimatu
CEBU CITY – The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for region 7 COVID 19 met Wednesday, and discussed its next steps in its mission to stop the transmission of COVID-19 in this city, where the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) has been extended until July 15.
"We have to end this ECQ already, please help us," Environment secretary Roy Cimatu, chief implementor for COVID-19 in Central Visayas said in his opening statement at a virtual press conference Wednesday here.
He lauded Cebuanos for starting to strictly comply with ECQ guidelines. “During the first week partial compliance lang, but ang nangyari ngayon nag improve na,” he said.
Cimatu noted that ECQ in Cebu was imposed for the first time in March, then on June 16 and was now being extended to July 15.
“Malaking problema and behavioral attitude of the Cebuanos during the very first ECQ, but now napansin naming na nag change kaagad and pag comply ng mga Cebuanos to the health and safety protocols of the ECQ lockdown,” he added.
He said that compliance with health standards in the city has improved tremendously so far. “We have 15 days to go before quarantine status is reviewed and when everyone continues to comply then it is easy to downgrade Cebu City’s status from ECQ to GCQ,” he added.
Cimatu went on that IATF has also visited, discussed and analyzed the situation of patients at the various barangay isolation centers and quarantine facilities in Cebu City. The team noted that the results were good as to the number of isolated individuals that slowly improved and recovered.
“Magbawas na tayo sa mga barangay isolation centers,” Cimatu added.
He also pointed out that it would be better to bring mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients directly to the NOAH Complex quarantine facility at the South Road Properties to give them more treatment benefits to the patients and more rooms for the incoming patients at the communities, he explained.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque said he joined all government local officials/IATF in providing full support to the local government units (LGUs) in Cebu City and Cebu province and their constituents to rise from the scourge of COVID19 pandemic, and work hand-in-hand to ensure the most effective fight to end the pandemic here.
Duque bared that it was important for the IATF and the local officials to continue leveling up health interventions specifically on strict compliance with minimum health standards—social distancing, washing hands, wiping or disinfecting surfaces, cough protocols and the use of masks.
“The use of masks helps 80 percent in the control of the virus’ transmission,” Duque said.
The second level of health interventions was the improvement of the containment capacity measures to prevent and control the transmission of the virus, like finding the patients, aggressive contact tracing, testing and treating them.
According to Duque, these were the most effective and efficient measures to be done so as not to degrade them to death.
According to Secretary Carlito Galvez, chief implementor COVID policies in the PH, the IATF team for Cebu was looking at the possibility of coming up with strategies on how to balance the economy versus health protocols in these times.
Galves said that the team was here to look at the expansion for emergency room tents to 14 more, airports and hospitals emergency capacity in order to manage the COVID-19 crisis in Cebu.
“The recommendation of IATF for Cebu City was still ECQ because even in Manila with the GCQ status marami pa ring mga pasaway,” he added.
He said the team will find ways and openings for business to get back on its feet. “We can’t sustain COVID19 responses when our economy is in a meltdown,” Galves noted.
Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Eduardo Ano said that the hard-headed, or “pasaway”, individuals in the barangays have been given summons and appropriate cases have been filed against them. “We have apprehended 215 violators of ECQ protocols to ensure obedience of the people,” he disclosed.