COVID-19 cases go down despite non-obligatory mask rule

CEBU, Philippines —  Almost a month since the implementation of the non-obligatory use of facemasks in Cebu City (except in hospitals and other medical facilities), Covid-19 cases have gone even lower contrary to what has been anticipated.

Currently, there are 377 active cases in the city with one death recorded earlier this month based on the Department of Health’s Covid-19 tracker. The actual date of death, however, had not been revealed.

Based on the same tracker, from August 25 to 31, 2022, 139 new cases were noted.

In the first week of the implementation of the non-obligatory use of face masks, there were 98 new cases recorded.

On September 12, 2022, Malacanang announced the signing of Executive Order No. 3 by no less than President Bongbong Marcos which provides for the voluntary use of face masks, specifically in outdoor settings though seniors and the immunocompromised had been advised to still wear face masks.

A very slight increase was noted in the second and third week of this month — 100 for September 8 to 14 and 105 for September 15 to 21.

But instead of increasing further, from September 22 to September 27, only 27 more new cases were recorded.

It is interesting to note though that while the Cebuanos have been given more freedom and ease of restrictions, there has been continued use of face masks even in outdoors and crowded places for their own protection.

Central Visayas as a whole has also kept its cases as low as 664.

It reached as many as 1,066 for August 4 to 10, 2022 but went down slowly.

In the last 14 days, Cebu City has had 208 new cases noted, Cebu Province, 186; Bohol, 101; Negros Oriental, 89; and Mandaue, 54. Only the top five LGUs with new cases in those days covered were included in the tracker.

To keep the wall of immunity strong, however, the Department of Health continuously encourages those who have not yet been vaccinated and boosted to get it now.

Health experts said that aside from protection against Covid-19 and its severity, getting vaccinated also means protecting others, especially as the full implementation of face-to-face classes in basic education is already set in November. — JMD (FREEMAN)