CEBU CITY Mayor Edgardo Labella has extended the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to May 15, 2020, as the city confirmed 139 more persons infected with coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on Wednesday, April 22.
The number of Covid-19 cases in Cebu City has now jumped to 312, the highest number of cases in Central Visayas. Most of the cases showed no symptoms of Covid-19.
The ECQ took effect last March 28. It is supposed to end on April 28, but the increasing trend of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the city forced Labella to decide to extend the ECQ for two more weeks.
"There is a need to extend our ECQ in Cebu City as Covid-19 cases continue to rise due to the fact that we have been doing targeted, massive testing of residents in the barangays where there are positive cases," Labella said in a statement.
"However, we will continue to assess the situation and once there is a significant decrease in our recorded cases, we can immediately lift the ECQ," he added.
Cebu City Jail
Of the newly identified 139 cases, 123 were from the Cebu City Jail. The facility has now 130 cases with one mortality.
Most of the patients show mild to moderate symptoms. They were isolated in a new building built for 3,000 individuals to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the facility in Barangay Kalunasan.
Seven of the new cases are from Sitio Callejon and two from Katipunan St. in Barangay Labangon; three from Sitio Cabantan in Barangay Luz; and one from C. Padilla St. in Barangay Duljo Fatima. Moreover, Barangays Kasambagan and Inayawan recorded their first Covid-19 patients; and there was one confirmed patient with unverified address.
Labella, in a Facebook post, said the patient with unverified address was tested in one of the cluster clinics in the city and the barangay where the patient lives is still being verified.
Newborn
The newborn boy from Barangay Hipodromo, who first tested positive for Covid-19, tested negative from the virus after two subsequent tests, said Labella.
The Cebu City Health Department is continuously monitoring the mother and her baby in a Cebu City hospital.
As of April 22, there were 312 Covid-19 patients in Cebu City of which 16 are now laboratory negative and six died.
Labella said Cebu City logged the highest Covid-19 cases in Central Visayas as it has the capacity to conduct massive testing. The City purchased 36,000 test kits and donated 10,000 of the kits to the Department of Health 7.
Barangay Luz
Luz Barangay Secretary Eldebrian Arañez said 55 of the 136 Covid-19 patients in Sitio Zapatera were transferred to the rooms in Luz National High School. Five were admitteed at the Cebu City Medical Center, while one resident was admitted to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.
Arañez said the remaining 75 Covid-19 patients refused to be transferred because they prefer home quarantine.
Lapu-Lapu City
The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Lapu-Lapu City has also increased further, with five additional cases reported Wednesday, said Mayor Junard "Ahong" Chan.
This brought the total number of confirmed cases in in the city to 18. The positive patients are residents of Barangays Marigondon, Gun-ob, Babag, with one confirmed case each; and Barangay Looc with two cases.
The increase in the number of cases was attributed to the massive testing for frontline workers and those who have close contact with persons who are positive for the coronavirus.
Chan said he expects that there will be an increase in the number of confirmed cases in the next few days. (PAC, JJL & FVQ / JGS)