Cebu Covid-19 updates as of mid-May 2021

Cebu is one of the areas in the country with the highest cases of Covid-19. It has undergone a lot of government-mandated adjustments in its effort to ‘flatten the curve’. Here are the latest updates in Cebu.

Decrease in Covid-19 numbers

Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) declared the city in its safest week yet since the start of 2021.

The EOC office recorded from April 30 to May 10 the lowest critical care occupancy rate (CCOR) at 11.1 percent and 1.45 percent daily positivity rate (DPR) for the city.

There was also a noticeable decline of Cebu Covid-19 cases from May 1 to 7. Despite these good numbers, Councilor Garganera still encourages the public to avoid complacency and for owners of restaurants to continue implementing health protocols following the lifting of the liquor ban.

Php7.3B loss for Cebu Pacific

With a 516 percent increase in net loss from the same period in 2020, Cebu Pacific has declared a stupendous negative income value for the first quarter of 2021 amounting to Php7.3 billion.

Cebu Air, owner of Cebu Pacific, suffered an 83 percent drop in revenues and 92 percent in passenger revenues.

The sustained damage is attributed to nonexistent operations of the company since the outbreak of the pandemic until the recommencement of activities in April 2020 for cargo flights within the Philippines and neighboring ASEAN countries. Another factor is the weak demand for travel since June 2020 when commercial flights were resumed.

This information is taken from Cebu Air’s quarterly report to the Philippine Stock Exchange submitted on May 10.

The company did get help from the lowered corporate income tax which was down to 25% as per the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprise (CREATE) law, and the decreased operational overhead due to several flight suspensions.

Mandaue City lifts liquor ban

The Mandaue City government has decided to lift the liquor ban in the city on May 10 due to a steady decline in active Covid-19 cases – 320 on April 9 with a positivity rate of 5 percent.

As per the Executive Order No. 14 issued by Mayor Jonas Cortes, the liquor ban which was implemented on February 21 of this year is effectively rescinded.

This means hotels, resorts, restaurants, convenience stores, small retail stores, and other such establishments can offer alcoholic drinks to their patrons again.

Compliance with the health guidelines and protocols are of course expected. Accommodation of customers is still down to 50 percent maximum capacity, and citizens are to observe the city curfew from 11PM to 4AM.

First batch of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines to be rolled out in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao

The Department of Health (DOH) has declared the distribution of the first batch of Covid-19 vaccines to Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao.

According to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, the reason for this prioritization is because these major metropolitans are considered ready to handle and store the vaccines that need ultra-low temperature – at negative 70 degrees Celsius.

There will be 193,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine expected to arrive in the country.

Mountain barangays in Cebu City reopens for tourism

The Cebu City Tourism Commission (CCTC) is now promoting tourism in the 10 barangays: Adlaon, Budlaan, Buhisan, Babag, Sudlon 1, Sudlon 2, Bonbon, Tagbao, Tabunon, and Sinsin.

Called the Highland Blooms and Eco-Tourism, the program was launched on May 11 to help showcase the natural wonders to be found in these areas like falls, caves, flower farms, pocket forests, and business establishments. There will be tour packages available for these barangays.