This drone shot of the “Arat na Cebu” shows a jampacked Cebu City Sports Complex. | Courtesy of the Arat na Cebu concert organizers
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Local health officials raised concerns on the crowd that joined a free concert here last Saturday, March 26.
Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, chief pathologist of the Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7), said the “Arat na Cebu” concert was “worrisome”.
Loreche said they were concerned that the event, which was attended by roughly 100,000 individuals, would turn out to be a ‘superspreader’.
“The concert that brought in a huge crowd is worrisome in a way that it can be a superspreader event — especially if the concert goers did not wear their face masks properly, and there were unvaccinated individuals too,” said Loreche in a message sent to reporters.
In turn, the DOH-7 official urged the public to be responsible when going out, particularly attending crowd-gathering events like concerts.
“However, it is really high time for each person to take full responsibility for their actions,” Loreche said.
“This is what we call sharing the responsibility as we all learn to live with COVID-19,” she added.
“Arat na Cebu” was the first concert held in Cebu City two years after COVID-driven lockdowns forced government to temporarily ban gatherings.
It was held at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).
Admission to the concert, which featured famous artists such as Gloc 9, December Avenue, Missing Filemon, to name some, was free.
Photos and videos taken during the event showed attendees apparently disregarding health protocols like social distancing and proper wearing of masks.
The police also received reports that several concertgoers and their own officers sustained injuries due to the thick crowd.
Cebu City is under Alert Level 1 since March 15. Concerts and other crowd-gathering events are allowed in areas placed under the most lenient form of community quarantine.
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