Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera, city’s Emergency Operation’s Center head, says they have noted higher transmission of the virus in workplaces and karenderyas. | CDN Digital file photo (Morexette Erram)
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been spreading fast in Cebu City with 2,671 active cases now.
The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in the city said that the transmission had been higher at workplaces and at karenderyas specifically.
Councilor Joel Garganera, EOC deputy chief implementor, said the establishments might be compliant to the health protocols, but their customers or workers might be complacent.
Read: Cebu City breaches 2K mark in COVID-19 active cases AGAIN
Karenderyas make up 20 percent of the outside transmission of cases while workplaces comprise 22 percent.
Garganera said that the establishments itself had imposed the minimum protocols, but workers on break during lunch time unconsciously break the protocols.
In karenderyas, customers dining-in will become complacent during the meal leading to transmission.
“This is alarming. Paspas kaayo ang transmission sa virus gyod. But we have managed to contain it and our contact tracers are on top of it,” said Garganera.
(This is alarming. The spread of the virus is really fast. But we have managed to contain it and our contact tracers are on top of it.)
Garganera said there had been an increase in hospitalization due to COVID-19 raising the occupancy rate in hospitals to 41 percent.
The occupancy rate is still at a safe level, and the city government wants to maintain it that way.
Still, the EOC is appealing to workers and customers to maintain the health protocols to avoid catching the virus.
Garganera said if the city would want to keep opening its economy, the people would have to cooperate.
“Nobody is spared with the virus. If you lower your guard, the virus will come in. COVID is very much around,” he said. /dbs