Urgent COVID alert: Please do your responsibility

Independent COVID data tracker Dennis Tagamolila sounded off yet another call for immediate public vigilance and strict compliance of health protocols after presenting his latest analysis and forecast about COVID cases in Cebu province and Cebu City.

According to him, for January 24, Cebu province logged the highest confirmed cases for the past 30 days, that “out of the 145 confirmed cases, Cebu province (except Cebu City) logged 86 cases led by Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Talisay, with a surprise entry of Ginatilan in second place and Bogo at fifth. A visual observation of province cases show(s) a rapid increase in numbers.”

He further noted that “Cebu City has a total of 59 cases after recording the highest confirmed last Friday at 80 cases and the numbers still at a sustained high.

“Barangays Mambaling, Suba, Guadalupe, Banilad, Basak San Nicolas, Luz, and Tisa round up the top barangays for January 24 cases.”

Then, this alarm and alert from him: “trend and forecast show that Cebu province is on the same levels as the early stage of September (last year) while Cebu City is hitting early august weekly levels.”

Remember that in August last year, Cebu City was the country’s COVID epicenter. Surely, we do not wish to be back in that emergency situation where the patients could not find any available space in any hospital in Metro Cebu.

With new COVID variants reported to spread even faster, we all need to go on maximum vigilance and alert. We all need to join hands together, stay even more vigilant to stay safe and again, together, help contain the virus by strictly following health protocols: wear mask and face shield, practice physical distancing, wash your hands frequently, and if possible, stay home and keep yourself and everyone else safe.

Like early 2020, we now have the same urgency to sound off these added reminders to all:

First, we call on all local officials and residents. Please pay attention to reliable COVID-data reports especially in the barangay and municipal level, which clearly show all the movement and pace of the virus where you are.

Gratefully, reliable barangay level COVID-data and visuals are now available at Dennis Tagamolila (bit.ly/PHCOVIDTRACKER), Dr. Joel Bandibas’ mobile web app at  https://jcb-spatial.com/cebcovid19/ and the UP Resilience Institute (endcov.ph).

Secondly, we call on the EOC to ensure well-maintained facilities and services with 24-hour available medical and other staff for COVID cases and for an updated, complete flowchart showing what to do when experiencing COVID symptoms for immediate public and wide dissemination.

The updated flowchart needs clear information, telephone numbers, persons to contact and guidelines assuring all with COVID symptoms about available services and facilities nearest to them.

The 2020 flowchart advised those with symptoms to consult cluster clinics closest to them, where swab tests were done, and in coordination with barangays, be referred to barangay isolation centers or temporary treatment medical facility (Bayanihan SHS, Bayanihan IEC, Noah’s Complex).

This previous flowchart, which depended on collaboration and commitment on all levels (barangays, cluster clinics, temporary treatment medical facilities, EOC), contributed greatly to decongesting hospitals, reserving these for extremely serious and critical COVID cases.

Thirdly, we call on LGUS and EOC for an urgent, thorough, equitable vaccine program to attain herd immunity to better protect all and contain the virus soonest possible.

In close collaboration with local and global medical, scientific and research experts, please immediately devise and implement a thorough, systematic and equitable vaccine program for all. Please ensure the vaccine’s safety and efficacy, as well as the transparent, responsible use of public funds for all constituents.

Best to unite now, prepare early and comprehensively. Please do your share to contain the virus and save lives.