If the number of coronavirus cases in Cebu City continues to rise, local and health officials will have to do something.
I heard the Covid ward of one private hospital is almost or already full and so is one public quarantine facility. It’s a good thing the isolation center at the former Sacred Heart School for Boys on Gen. Maxilom Ave. is on standby and the contract for its use was extended.
Again, this development shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Health officials and City Councilor Joel Garganera, deputy chief implementer of the city’s Emergency Operations Center, had been telling us since December that they expected a rise in Covid cases after the holiday season.
If some of you still don’t see why this is so, then you’re stuck in some pandemic reverie. I don’t want to say delusional because it’s a bit harsh and I don’t want to be accused of being judgmental – God forbid! Maybe “in denial” is a much more apt description.
But let’s face it. A lot of people have been going about their business as if the health crisis never existed. I can’t say I blame them. I, too, want things to go back to normal, which is why, as much as possible, I have tried to comply with all safety and health protocols.
I’m not going to lie. I might have, on one or two occasions or maybe three or was it four, inadvertently violated some of the guidelines.
I’m not saying that I recently attended a party, did a mean rendition of Culture Club’s “Karma Chameleon” and danced the night away past the 11 p.m. curfew. And even if I did all those things, which, again, I am not saying I did, I still kept my mask on — except when I ate and sang, of course — tried to maintain social distancing — it’s not my fault if people wanted to get close to me — and drank enough vodka to kill any virus.
So I keep an open mind. Well, at least I try. I know that what we’re all going through right now is not easy, especially for those who have lost their jobs and have mouths to feed.
You see. Different people have different ways of coping. Some drink. Some overeat. Some complain about minors running around the streets, specifically J. Urgello in Barangay Sambag 1, way into the night disturbing the peace, despite repeated warnings from tanods.
So what am I suggesting? That we go back to a more restrictive community quarantine? Heck no! Been there, done that.
But police visibility might help. After all, they’re already receiving an allowance from the City Government. They might as well earn it.
And don’t bother with new Covid measures; just strictly implement EXISTING regulations.
Hopefully, the current trend will plateau and cases will soon start going down again.