EDITORIAL - We should still be wary under GCQ

It’s finally happening. Starting tomorrow and barring any more changes, Cebu City will be downgraded to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) from Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

According to online news reports, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said during a virtual press conference yesterday that the Inter-agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases has already approved the reclassification of Cebu City, Mandaue City, Zamboanga City, and the entire Central Visayas under GCQ.

Many have been waiting for this development because at least under GCQ some industries and businesses will be allowed to operate again, that means some people can go back to being able to provide for their families or restart their businesses again.

Businesses that were allowed or partially allowed to operate under ECQ and MECQ are now also allowed to resume operations at full capacity.

Some form of transportation will also be allowed under GCQ like certain buses and Grab vehicles, although Public Utility Jeepneys (PUJs) are still forbidden.

As for those who are craving their favorite foods, some restaurants can now open but can still not provide dining-in services, they can only take orders to go.

While we cannot expect a huge turnout because of the prohibition on PUJs during GCQ, we can still expect many people to spend time outside their homes because of the easing of restrictions.

This is where we should be careful. We should not forget that COVID-19 is still a disease transmitted by infected people to other people. Human interaction leads to infection. Taking precautions like physical distancing, using face masks, and making sure to clean the items we take inside our homes helps in preventing the chances of being infected.

Again, we should say that it takes just one unguarded moment to undo all that we have been working hard to achieve these two months. We can’t keep saying this enough. All it takes is just one person at the wrong place in the right time and we can see the number of cases spiral out of control.

Then it’s back to ECQ, or worse.