ECQ a Chance to Improve Cebu City’s Battle Against COVID-19

Cebu City now has the chance to improve on its coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response efforts after being reverted back to Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Cebu City was initially placed under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) from June 1 to June 15, 2020 due to its rising number of recoveries but the city has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases since then.

With a total of 4,137 cases (122 new cases today), the IATF has enough reasons to put the city back on lockdown until June 30, 2020 as Cebu City is now considered as the epicenter of the COVID-19 in the Visayas region.

Cebu City Mayor Edgar Labella filed for an appeal to place them back under GCQ but DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said that putting the city under ECQ is an opportunity to make things better.

“Hindi ito pagpaparusa sa mga taga-Cebu City, ito ay para mabigyan ng pagkakataon na makapag-contact tracing, makapag-testing tayo at mailagay natin sa quarantine ang lahat ng tao,” said Año.

Secretary Año also revealed that he already had a conversation with Mayor Labella and discussed police assistance in border checkpoints and everywhere.

Protocols during ECQ such as suspension of public transportation, the closing of non-essential establishments is in effect until June 30, 2020. (MLC)