This Week in Cebu (August 9 to 15, 2020)

Workers can now report back to their offices and non-essential purposes are now allowed in public after President Rodrigo Duterte put the City of Cebu under general community quarantine (GCQ) from August 1 to 15, 2020. Following the order, public transportation is finally allowed to operate given that 50% capacity and strict physical distancing measures are observed. Non-workers are still required to show their quarantine passes and the QR coding is still in effect. Vehicle number coding is also suspended in Cebu City and the entire Cebu province except in Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu City [1]. Meanwhile, the province of Cebu is under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

Now that the province is under GCQ, the reopening of Category 4 establishments in Mandaue City was approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) effective August 1, 2020. Establishments under the category are gyms, sports facilities, amusement industries, personal care services, tourism destinations, travel tours, museums, and libraries. Mandaue City Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) Head Lizer Malate said that these establishments must operate at 30 percent capacity. Meanwhile for hotels, resorts, and restaurants, 50 percent capacity is allowed [2].

The town, which is known for its whale-shark watching activities, started accepting tourists last August 1, 2020 [3]. Oslob Mayor Jun Tumulak stated that those who will visit the town for leisure and tourism purposes must register online through the capitol's booking portal. Cebu province is now under modified general community quarantine, and Oslob is the first leg of the capitol’s tourism relaunching.

The City Health Department in Cebu City addressed the concerns of citizens, ensuring that there are plenty of COVID-19 test kits. Dr. Jeffrey Ibones, the City Health Department’s officer-in-charge confirmed that they have around 38,000 rapid diagnostic test kits ready, while the kits for swabbing are being replenished every time. Ibones also added that rapid diagnostic tests might be used for the planned mass testing of around 4,000 stall owners and their helpers at the Carbon Public Market [4].

Go to Yoorekka for more COVID-19 updates in Cebu.