LGUs, Hospitals Support 24-Hour Curfew on Elderly and Minors

Local Government Units (LGUs), hospitals and even doctors expressed their full support on the recent implementation of the 24-hour curfew to senior citizens and minors due to the threat of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

There are 552 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country with 35 deaths up to date. However, on the brighter side, there are 20 individuals who have already recovered from the said disease.

Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia issued EO 5-K, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella issued EO 059, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan announced its advisory, Bohol Governor Atty. Arthur Yap issued EO 16, Larena, Siquijor Mayor Dean Villa issued Eo 17, Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo issued EO 13, Baybay City, Leyte Mayor Jose Carlos Cari issued EO 55 and Pambujan, Northern Samar Mayor Felipe Sosing issued EO 31.

Above mentioned are some advisories issued by different public officials related to the tight security measures to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

“We support the measure to keep seniors inside as they are the most at-risk age group. Hospital containment floors are rapidly filling up. We hope that this doesn’t happen but in the event that there is a surge and there are not enough ventilators, the doctors will have to make the difficult decision on whose life to save. That ventilator will likely go to a younger person- and not to our parents or grandparents,” said Candice Gotianuy, President of University of Cebu Medical Center (UCMed).

Dr. Pureza Onate, Medical Director of Perpetual Succour Hospital said that according to the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in United States, people with existing and underlying health conditions and eldery people are most likely to suffer severe disease and even death from COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Cebu Doctor’s Group of Hospitals’ President and Chairman Dr. Potenciano “Yong” Larrazabal III asked the public to stay at home and let the frontliners do their job in battling the disease.

“We appreciate every move of our Government Officials to a more heightened security and preventive measures just to flatten the curve. We, healthcare workers, cannot fight this pandemic alone, we need everybody’s cooperation. Our battle cry is one, we stayed at work for you, please stay at home for us,” said Dr. Larrazabal. (MLC)