THE Mandaue Emergency Operations Center (EOC) anticipates a rise in Covid-19 cases in the next three weeks after the city’s quarantine status was downgraded from modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) to general community quarantine (GCQ).
Julius Caesar Entise, EOC deputy chief, noted that after quarantine restrictions were eased, people have become more complacent and have gone back to attending gatherings.
Also, the presence of the Delta variant of the Covid-19 virus also makes the rise in cases imminent, Entise said
To prevent this from happening, Entise called on people to be more vigilant and to learn from lessons of the previous months when the cases were high.
He also asked people to be more compliant with the minimum health protocols, particularly on the proper wearing of masks and avoiding social gatherings.
He considers social gatherings as “super spreaders” of the virus.
He also urged the public to get vaccinated to avoid acquiring severe symptoms if infected by the virus.
Most hospitalized patients found positive for the Covid-19 with severe symptoms are unvaccinated.
In Mandaue City, Entise reported that 90 percent of the Covid-19 patients in the month of August were unvaccinated.
To prepare for a rise in cases, Entise said they are opening an extension of the Mandaue City Hospital that could accommodate up to 70 patients at the same time.
Entise said the EOC also treats each patient as a Delta variant case and takes all the precautions needed for a more contagious strain of the regular virus.
Mandaue City has two isolation centers--Norkis Park and the former North Bus Terminal.
The Mandaue City Comprehensive National High School Annex Campus is also being used as a “step-down facility” where possible Covid-19 cases are quarantined.