Healthcare professionals support 24-hour curfew

CEBU, Philippines —  The different hospitals and doctors in Cebu have expressed support to the imposition of a 24-hour curfew covering senior citizens and minors, amidst the threat of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In a statement among hospital administrators in Cebu released by the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV), the health institutions said they have expressed their support the measure since seniors are the most at-risk age group in this pandemic battle.

"Hospital containment floors are rapidly filling up. We hope that this doesn’t happen but in the event that there is a surge and there are not enough ventilators, the doctors will have to make the difficult decision on whose life to save. That ventilator will likely go to a younger person- and not to our parents or grandparents," said Candice Gotianuy, president of University of Cebu Medical Center (UCMED).

Dr. Pureza Onate, medical director of Perpetual Succor Hospital, said that even the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in United States proved that "people who are at higher risk for severe disease and death from the COVID 19 virus are those who are older and with underlying health conditions."

Dr. Joanne Cosin, chief operating officer of Chong Hua Hospital, described the move of the Cebu leaders as prudent and timely.

"They face a potentially life-threatening risk if infected with the novel coronavirus, which has caused deaths of 60-plus-year-olds stretching across the cities of China to the metropolises of Italy and now the United States. Thus CHH totally supports this timely, prudent and compassionate move," Cosin said.

Dr. Ma. Lourdes Chan of the Cebu Velez General Hospital said they support this advisory for the call to those who are 65-years and older to stay at home as they are the ones at highest risk of acquiring the severe form of the COVID infection with a high fatality rate.

"We hope that this move will help flatten the curve of the rising number of infected cases and deaths," said Chan.

Cebu Doctors' Group of Hospitals' President and Chairman Dr. Potenciano "Yong" Larrazabal III also asked the public to let the frontliners flatten the curve while they stay in their homes.

"We appreciate every move of our government officials to a more heightened security and preventive measures just to flatten the curve. We, healthcare workers, cannot fight this pandemic alone, we need everybody's cooperation. Our battle cry is one, we stayed at work for you, please stay at home for us," said Larrazabal.

OPAV Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino has encouraged all the local government units in the Visayas to impose such measures before the cases of COVID-19 gets worst in the region.

Following the advisory issued by Dino, more LGU's adopted the said advisory by issuing their own executive orders to protect their constituents.

Among those who issued EO’s on 24-hour curfew include Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia (EO 5K), Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella (EO 059), Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Ahong Chan; Bohol Governor Arthur Yap (EO 16), Larena, Siquijor Mayor Dean Villa (EO 17), Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo (EO 13), Baybay City, Leyte Mayor Jose Carlos Cari (EO 55) and Pambujan, Northern Samar Felipe Sosing (EO 31).  GAN (FREEMAN)