The Barrio Luz Elementary School was designated as an isolation center during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, Cebu City is planning to open 8 more Barangay Isolation Centers (BICs) to address the rising cases of infection in the city. | Photo grabbed from the Barangay Luz Facebook page
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City will be opening additional eight barangay isolation centers (BICs) amid the rise of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases which has reached 1,613 on February 2, 2021.
In view of this, the Emergency Operations Center will be opening more isolation centers since most of the new cases are asymptomatic.
“Kagahapon sad nagmeeting ta with DepEd (Department of Education). We formally asked them to reopen our own BICs. Naay walo ka eskwelahan nga atong gitan-aw nga, in addition sa Labangon ug Mabolo, Zapatera, there will be eight additional. Gi-ready nato for just in case, mas maayo man mangandam ta, just in case og modaghan gyud ni siya,” said Councilor Joel Garganera, the deputy chief implementor of the EOC.
There are three isolation centers recently opened in Barangays Mabolo, Zapatera, and Labangon. Isolation centers in Pardo, Guadaluoe, and City Central School may also be opened soon.
Garganera said the DepEd has been receptive and easily agreed to allow the city to use the schools as isolation centers. The EOC will only be using at least 30 rooms per school and DepEd has started cleaning the rooms.
With the 142 new cases recorded on February 2, 2021, Garganera said there is a need for people to be more mindful of their behavior when outside their homes.
The spread is alarming as the number of cases grew 20 times more in just one month. Yet compared before, the city government has managed the case with faster isolation and immediate contact tracing.
“Na alarma ko because we really could do better. Mao na niappelar ko sa akong mga kaigsunonan, ang atoa pamatasan, maglikay ta.,” said Garganera.
The BICs are necessary to keep the healthcare system from being overwhelmed and to house the asymptomatic patients.
Garganera hopes the cases will decrease now that the liquor ban has been reimplemented giving people no more reason to stay out. /rcg