AGGRESSIVE TESTING. Photo shows medical front-liners conducting reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) swab testing to the vendors of the Carbon Public Market in September. DOH-7 chief pathologist Mary Jean Loreche on Monday (Nov. 23, 2020) said the planned aggressive testing in two more public markets, transport sector, government agencies and private establishments will track the rise in Covid-19 cases in Cebu City. (File photo courtesy of Cebu City PIO)
CEBU CITY – The planned aggressive testing in areas here with high prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) will track the recent spike of cases, a Department of Health-Region 7 (DOH-7) official said on Monday.
Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, DOH-7 chief pathologist, said the increased testing for surveillance and monitoring will detect which village or sector here needs close attention in dealing with the cases.
In support of the city’s effort to curb rise in Covid-19 cases, the DOH-7 will conduct aggressive testing in two public markets – one in the south district and one in the north – as well as the transport sector, government agencies and private establishments, excluding Carbon Public Market which was the venue of pooled swab test by the business sector.
“As we test more by sectors, offices and agencies then we can check the compliance of the public health measures,” Loreche told the Philippine News Agency, adding that such bolstered testing capacity should be done despite the fact that the rise in cases here is not alarming.
As of Sunday night, there were 22 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the total active cases to 371, the same figure reported at the height of health crisis here in June.
The city logged only two new recoveries, bringing the total number of persons who have beaten the disease to 9,529 out of 10,582 infections here. The city has a total of 682 deaths.
Loreche said the recent double-digit increase in Covid-19 cases in Cebu may have been caused by the more relaxed mood of the residents as some are no longer mindful of the minimum health standards like physical distancing and wearing of face masks while in public.
Loreche, who also spoke on Covid-19 issues, confirmed the statement of Dr. Brian Albert Lim, a physician of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) here, that 14 days prior to spike in cases the people, were relaxed during the holidays especially during "Undas".
“There is more people movement and more establishments are open already. More gatherings are happening and people have become less compliant with the health protocols,” she said.
Loreche also said that the DOH-7 is monitoring the cases now that more than a thousand traditional jeepneys are plying their routes again, after the Cebu City Balik Pasada Task Force moved for their return due to commuters’ demand.
She appealed to “all our kababayans to please be more conscious and mindful of our adherence to the health protocols to show to the world that we are disciplined and we can conquer this pandemic together and as one”. (PNA)
