NEARLY three out of 10 employees of 20 member hotels of the Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) have been fully vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) while six out of 10 have received one dose.

HRRAC president Alfred Reyes said 27 percent of the employees of the 20 hotels have received two doses while 60 percent have received one dose.

“This came from 20 hotels (that submitted their figures to us),” he said.

Reyes said he hoped the vaccinations would increase in the next couple of weeks as more vaccine supplies arrive in the country.

With the threat of the Delta variant of Sars-CoV-2, he said tourism frontliners should be vaccinated and protected.

“Whatever is the vaccine in front of you, do it already. Don’t wait too long,” he said.

Reyes also said HRRAC fully supports the reintroduction of the liquor ban, imposition of longer curfew hours and other restrictions to curb the rising Covid-19 cases in Cebu.

The Cebu City Government reimposed the liquor ban and extended curfew hours starting Sunday, July 25, 2021.

Starting Aug. 25, only vaccinated persons can enter grocery stores, supermarkets, department stores, convenience stores and public markets in Lapu-Lapu City after Mayor Junard Chan issued an executive order imposing stricter measures to curb transmission.

On Monday, July 26, there were 161 new cases in Cebu City, 74 in Lapu-Lapu, 72 in Mandaue and 147 in Cebu Province.

Arnel Aparis, marketing communications manager of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, said their frontliners are 80 percent vaccinated.

“With the coronavirus cases once again on the rise, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino makes sure that the employees are protected through vaccination,” he said.

“We are also very strict in following health protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force (for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases). Vaccination is going to make our employees feel safe,” he told SunStar Cebu. (JOB)