EOC warns of potential COVID “super-spreaders”

CEBU, Philippines —  The number of asymptomatic COVID-19 cases in Cebu City has increased by 83 percent in November and the city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has warned that people who are asymptomatic can be potential “super-spreaders”.

Asymptomatic patients are those who do not manifest symptoms of infection.

The ECO’s deputy chief implementer, Councilor Joel Garganera, said most of the cases in November were “incidental” or those discovered when patients underwent testing for COVID-19 as part of work or travel requirements.

Garganera said people who are asymptomatic may be potential super-spreaders of the virus because they continue to be mobile and to be active in the workforce.

“This tells us that COVID-19 is still very much with us in the communities and the workplace,” Garganera said.

A super-spreader in medical terms is defined as a highly infectious person who spreads infectious diseases to many other people. In the context of COVID-19, however, it has not been identified how many other people can one person transmitted the disease to.

“The usual notion is that mas maayo ang asymptomatic kaysa symptomatic but that’s not the case. Kani, with the 86 percent nga naa nato nga asymptomatic and then most of them got tested, incidental, its either go back to work, requirement or travel and others so they did not manifest any symptom. So that’s where the danger is, they are everywhere,” Garganera said.

Garganera said this data should push workplaces to enforce safe workplace standards. Everyone, he said, should be responsible enough to observe health protocols strictly so that they will not spread the virus, in case they have contracted it.

With the advent of the Holiday Season, Garganera said it is best that everyone should be cautious and treat others as if they have the virus.

“Let us not be complacent. When we move, let us be cautious and see others as if they have the virus. Let us protect ourselves and others,” he said.

More cases were also found in November as the EOC started to implement aggressive testing, including secondary close contacts.

“We see a rising number of second generation close contacts coming out positive,” Garganera disclosed.

In the Department of Health (DOH)-7’s November 28 case bulletin, Cebu City has 316 active cases including six additional cases.

The good news, however, is that the city also recorded 19 new recoveries.

In the same DOH bulletin, Lapu-Lapu City has 141 active cases while Mandaue City has 94 active cases.

Cebu Province has 293 active cases while Bohol has 126 active cases. Negros Oriental has 194 active cases and Siquijor has five. — JMO (FREEMAN)