OF THE 80 barangays in Cebu City, more than half or 49 have had no reported Covid-19 transmissions for two weeks straight.
This according to Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera, Emergency Operations Center (EOC) deputy chief implementer.
Garganera said as of Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, only nine out of the 541 residents that were swabbed tested positive for the coronavirus disease.
“That is a 1.66 percent positivity rate,” said Garganera, adding that the lowering of cases in Cebu City has been the product of the “Cebuanos’ collective effort.”
“We cannot claim to do it ourselves. No matter how we try to observe protocols, if the people will not follow, nothing good would come out of it,” Garganera said.
The EOC official acknowledged the medical frontliners, law enforcers and all business establishments that had been helping government by having their employees vaccinated against Covid-19.
“In fact, two days ago, we inspected Ayala, and we are proud because all their organic personnel are 100 percent vaccinated. So it will give confidence to the customer to go inside this particular area knowing that they are served by fully vaccinated staff,” he said.
Vaccination is key
Based on records of the EOC, most establishments in Cebu City have vaccinated 85-95 percent of their employees.
“Vaccination plays a big role in keeping everybody safe. If you get vaccinated, you have a very low chance of becoming severely infected with Covid,” Garganera reiterated.
He also reminded Cebuanos not to be complacent even though cases were low as of Thursday, Nov. 18.
“People relapse quickly since they tend to think that if cases are low, there is no virus anymore. The very fact that we have cases, no matter how few they are is enough to prove that Covid is still around,” Garganera said.
Because the Christmas season is just around the corner and masses will be celebrated, the EOC will discuss revised protocols with the Archdiocese of Cebu.
Around 55-56 percent of Cebu City’s poplulation have been vaccinated, according to EOC data.
To be able to achieve herd immunity, the EOC is targeting the inoculation of 70 percent of the population.
“It is still a long way to go and our protocols are still the same. We have to keep on following them,” Garganera said.