THE Lapu-Lapu City Government has been preparing to reenergize the city’s tourism industry slowed down by the local coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) epidemic.
The tourism industry is a major player in the Lapu-Lapu City economy, providing thousands of jobs to city and non-city residents.
From Aug. 5 to 12, 2020, the Tourism Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (TCHAC) inspected several resorts to check whether they are capable of implementing the government health protocol such as wearing masks and observing safe distance in their establishments.
The TCHAC personnel noted that some resorts need improvement. Sanitary inspectors and city health officials also gave safety tips to the resorts’ personnel.
Improving situation
Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan claimed that the Lapu-Lapu City Covid-19 situation was improving as there are more recoveries than active Covid-19 cases, making him confident that the city’s general community quarantine (GCQ) status would be downgraded to the less restrictive modified GCQ (MGCQ) on Aug. 16. The recent GCQ status of Lapu-Lapu City started last Aug. 1 and will end on Aug. 15.
The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has the power to classify Lapu-Lapu City’s quarantine status.
Covid-19 cases
The Department of Health (DOH) 7 reported that as of Wednesday, Aug. 12, the city had a total of 2,014 Covid-19 cases with 719 active cases, 1,222 recoveries and 73 deaths.
On Wednesday alone, the DOH 7 reported that there were 14 new cases, 40 recoveries and zero mortality.
Chan attributed the decrease in new cases to the City medical frontliners’ efficient contact tracing of persons exposed to Covid-19 patients and isolating them in quarantine facilities.
He also noticed that several Oponganons now wear masks in public and observe physical distancing to avoid contracting Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.
Just this August, the City Council approved the amendatory ordinance allowing Lapu-Lapu residents to exercise citizen’s arrest if they see individuals not wearing masks in the streets and other public spaces.
The inspection of resorts was led by Chan’s wife and TCHAC head Cindi King-Chan. She was accompanied by Grace Mary Chan-Carungay of the City Health Office and Sanitary Inspector Ferdinand Tepait.
“We look forward to opening up the domestic tourism market to revive the hospitality industry,” said King-Chan.
According to the July 16, 2020 amended IATF omnibus guidelines on community quarantine, swimming is one of the outdoor non-contact physical activities allowed in GCQ and MGCQ settings.
Minimum public health standards such as wearing masks and observing physical distance must be complied with at all times in areas placed on GCQ and MGCQ. / KAL FROM GCM