Garganera to Cebuanos: Cases are dropping but ‘COVID is still around’

Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera. | CDND File photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The continuous drop in COVID-19 cases here is an indication that Cebu City is now recovering from the pandemic.

But Cebuanos should never be complacent, according to Cebu City Councilor and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) deputy chief implementer Joel Garganera.

“COVID is still around. Malipay ta [that cases continue to drop], but then again we should not be complacent. Let us be mindful gihapon nga si COVID is still around,” he said.

Garganera is urging Cebuanos to continue to be vigilant and to comply with health and safety protocols so that the city’s Alert Level 1 status would eventually be lifted if they no longer recorded any new cases of the infection.

As of May 15, EOC recorded only 27 active cases of the infection here.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar announced on Sunday, May 15, that Cebu’s tri-cities – Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu – will retain its Alert Level 1 status until May 31, 2022.

READ: NCR still under Alert Level 1; Some provinces remain under Alert Level 2 — IATF

Garganera said Andanar’s recent pronouncement is a very good news for the Cebuanos.

And contrary to predictions, Cebu City did not record any “spike” in new COVID-19 cases after the May 9 elections.

Health officials earlier warned of a possible spike in cases because of the many gatherings that were held and attended by hundreds during the campaign period.

Before May 9, Cebu City logged 45 active COVID-19 cases.  And with the elections now over, the city is only left with 27 active cases, Garganera said.

In addition, no new transmissions were also reported in 67 of the city’s 80 barangays from May 5 to May 14.

READ: EOC: No active COVID-19 cases in 68 of 80 brgys in Cebu City in past 10 days

“I don’t buy the idea nga cases will rise after the election, not with Cebu. Kay during the election ang atong mga tawo nag sul-ob og face mask unya ang atong targeted population para sa atong vaccination sobra naman ta,” he said.

Garganera said the vaccination of at least 87 percent of the Cebu City residents, especially the senior citizens, helped in the drop of active cases here.

However, he admitted that the City’s fight against COVID-19 is not yet over.

The city government, he said, will continue with its vaccination drive.  They will especially focus on the minors who are between five to 17-years-old.

At the same time, Garganera is urging those who already received two doses of the vaccine to also get their booster shots. / dcb