Gealon says: Lifting of lockdown based on evidence

CEBU, Philippines — The lifting of the lockdown at Sitio Zapatera, Barangay Luz, Cebu City was evidence-based, so said City Legal Officer Attorney Rey Gealon, who is also the mayor's spokesperson.

In a press conference, Gealon said that Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella had a coordination meeting with the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 and the military to discuss the new guidelines and protocols the national Interagency Task Force has set.

Last Wednesday, the Cebu City government has lifted the lockdown on Sitio Zapatera after 43 days.

At least 51 of those who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the area have since recovered.

Gealon said that a lot of people have asked the mayor on what those other areas that are still under lockdown would need to do to have the restriction lifted.

“Of course ang basehan ana kay ang mga experts, mga doctors and nurses nga naa sa area... og based sa data na daghan na kaayo naka-recover sa Sitio Zapatera ug padayon pa ilang rapid test sabayan pa sa swab testing,” said Gealon.

He added that the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT), who helped the medical personnel, has recommended that the area is safe already.

Gealon said that rapid mass testing and swab testing are still being conducted in the area.

He added that the Sangguniang Barangay of Luz has also passed Resolution 20-040 last May 18 recommending the lifting of the total lockdown at Sitio Zapatera upon the recommendation of their Barangay Crisis Management Team and BHERT.

He said the city’s approach is scientific-evidence based.

“Ato approach is scientific-evidence based and ang paagi kay mass testing, PCR swab testing.  Mao gibuhat nato tanan ug mao na ato nahibaw-an kay dili ta ganahan maghatag og false hope or false sense of security sa mga residente sa dakbayan,” said Gealon.

He added that this was made possible also because of the efforts done by the city and the community of Sitio Zapatera.

From the start of the spread of the virus in the area, contact tracing was done to the members of the family and neighbors of the positive cases to contain the virus.

Recently, some of the recovered patients have already returned home, while the rest chose to remain at the Barangay Isolation Center (BIC) in Luz as they have family members who are still positive and are isolated there. GAN (FREEMAN)