CEBU City may also lift its curfew for a gradual shift to the new normal amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, following the announcement that the curfew in Metro Manila, comprised of 17 local government units, will be lifted on Nov. 4.
“We will discuss it from the convergence point of view. If and when we are ready, then why not?” Cebu City Acting Mayor Michael Rama said on Wednesday, Nov. 3.
The acting mayor said he would first discuss the matter with officials of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Ahead of this meeting, however, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) said Wednesday it would not recommend lifting the curfew.
The acting mayor has not said when he will convene the convergence meeting of the various sectors, including the business sector.
City Councilor Joel Garganera, deputy chief implementer of the EOC, also said they would have to observe the Covid-19 situation in the city first.
“Now, it’s too early. We have yet to see the effects of the loosening of our restrictions, on Covid-19 infections. Maybe in two weeks’ time, we are going to reassess the situation because it hasn’t been too long yet that we allowed the minors to go out of their homes,” Garganera said.
Since Covid-19 reached Cebu City, the City has imposed a curfew.
Last year, the curfew began as early as 8 p.m. during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period, the strictest quarantine classification. This was moved later to 10 p.m. during the period of modified general community quarantine.
Now that the Alert Level System has been implemented and the city has been placed under Alert Level 2, the curfew has become shorter at from 11:30 pm to 4 a.m.
Under Alert Level 2 and since Oct. 25, minors in the city have been allowed to go out of their homes to enter establishments permitted to operate at limited capacity, for as long as they are accompanied by a parent or guardian fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Just like in Metro Manila, new Covid-19 cases in Cebu City have dropped. Cebu City Health Department data show that in the last 10 days, 45 of the city’s 80 barangays had not recorded any Covid-19 transmission.