Mayor wants Cebu City to remain under GCQ after June 15

The mayor of Cebu City wants the city to remain under general community quarantine (GCQ) after June 15 as the local government continues its efforts against the spread of COVID-19.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV on Monday, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said he is not comfortable to ease their restrictions.

“We are now under GCQ. And hopefully we continue to be under GCQ. I am not comfortable na mapunta na tayo kaagad sa modified because there will be...parang open na talaga e,” Labella said.

The mayor hoped that the Inter-Agency Task Force would consider his suggestion.

Since March, Labella said the city government has tested around 25,000 people. Of which, 10,000 underwent PCR-based testing, while 15,000  underwent rapid testing.

“As of yesterday, I think, umaabot ng 3,000 'yung  found positive. Ninety percent are asymptomatic. The good news is 1,700 have recovered,” he said.

As they conduct mass testing and contact tracing, Labella said it is important for him that some restrictions will be maintained.

Based on the data analysis on COVID-19 cases of some experts in the UP Diliman as of June 11, Cebu City is one of the ‘battle grounds’ of the spread of the infection.

The group of experts suggested that the Department of Health monitor the situation and take appropriate and timely response in Cebu City, where the transmission of the virus is evident.

President Rodrigo Duterte is set to announce the latest directives regarding the implementation of community quarantine in the country on Monday. — RSJ, GMA News