THE number of active coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in Central Visayas is now below 1,000, according to the Department of Health regional office (DOH 7).
Dr. Jaime Bernadas, DOH 7 director, said Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020, that the daily tally of new cases has been decreasing from end-July until the second week of October and the epidemic curve for the region has flattened since September.
“If we look at the graph, the curve has been flat for the past six weeks,” he said.
From Oct. 7 to 13, the DOH 7 recorded an average of 41 cases a day in the entire Central Visayas.
On Oct. 13, only 10 new cases of infection were recorded in the region, bringing the active cases to 929.
Of the new cases, two were from Cebu City, one from Lapu-Lapu City, two from Mandaue City and five from Cebu Province.
There were 138 additional recoveries, increasing the total to 19,287. The death toll stood at 1,300 as of Tuesday.
In Cebu City, Councilor Joel Garganera said the positivity rate went down to 0.48 percent, the lowest since the epidemic started in March 2020.
Garganera, Cebu City Emergency Operations Center (EOC) deputy chief implementer, said they recorded two new cases of Covid-19 out of the 411 individuals tested on Oct. 13.
There were also two mortalities, breaking the seven consecutive days of zero deaths from Covid-19.
Cebu City now has a total case count of 10,123 as of Oct. 13, with 9,091 recoveries and 676 deaths.
Garganera said the lower number of active cases could be traced to the continuous harmonization of data from DOH 7 and EOC. He asked that harmonization efforts be conducted every Tuesday.
By the end of the week, Garganera said 75 cases may be deducted from the active cases.
Despite the deceleration in new cases, Garganera said the residents should not be complacent because the virus still exists.
He also said reopening of cinemas should be done gradually. The EOC recently met with representatives of malls that wish to resume movie theater operations.
Garganera, however, commended the business community for being compliant with the EOC’s requirements and protocols, especially in assigning a Health Infection and Prevention Control Officer (HIPCO) who will coordinate with the EOC in case an employee contracts the virus. (WBS / JJL)