Biz sector: We cannot afford another lockdown

Members of Cebu City’s business community expressed alarm over the recent statement of the Emergency Operations Center that the city might be placed under another lockdown should the rising trend of COVID-19 infections continue. / STOCK PHOTO (Unsplash.com)

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Members of the Cebu business community reminded the public not to let their guard down against the coronavirus pandemic.

This as the city’s Emergency Operations Center (E that OC) issued a warning that another lockdown could happen here if the number of new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases continues to rise.

READ MORE: EOC warns lockdown if rising trend in COVID-19 cases continues

Felix Taguiam, president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), said the business sector can no longer afford to close down operations again.

Taguiam, in a text message sent to CDN Digital, stressed that the key to preventing another lockdown or enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is for everyone to continue observing and following minimum health standards.

“Since the business community can not afford another lockdown,  let’s not waste our time and learnings of the past… Let’s all cooperate and (continue) practice safety protocols we have been teaching,” said Taguiam.

This was also the sentiment of Hotel Resort Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) president Carlo Suarez.

“We hope we won’t revert back or have another ECQ. HRRAC is faring fine under MGCQ (modified general community quarantine) and we’re looking forward to Cebu City to shift to the ‘New Normal’ but we should never be complacent,” Suarez said.

With over 800 members, CCCI is the second-largest business group in the country, next to the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) while HRRAC, the largest organization composed of leisure-oriented establishments and operators, is composed of more than 100 members.

The EOC, on November 12, 2020, expressed alarm after the city, for two consecutive days, reported a double-digit in the number of daily new COVID-19 cases.

This led to the number of active COVID-19 cases to slightly increase to 185 as of November 11, 2020 and prompted local officials and health authorities to issue the warning. As of November 12, the number went up when the Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7) recorded 10 more COVID-19 patients and zero recoveries.

Cebu City has been placed under MGCQ since September. But last June, it was reverted to ECQ, the strictest form of community quarantine that paralyzed not only public transportation but also the majority of commercial and economic activities./rcg

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