Año says Cebu City more likely the epicenter of COVID-19

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday said Cebu City is more likely the epicenter of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the country. 

"Yes, more likely because of the rate of infection... In Cebu City, just one city, so if you compare it to the National Capital Region where we have 17 LGUs... in Metro Manila we have 356 (new cases) while we have 131 in Cebu City, so you can just see the number," Año explained in an interview on ANC. 

"Cebu City is taking a lot of new cases. We are worried with the number of deaths also. That's why we put up a task force in Cebu led by Secretary [Roy] Cimatu as directed by President Rodrigo Duterte," he added. 

So far, Cebu City, which has been placed under lockdown, has 4,962 COVID-19 infections, with 2,596 recoveries and 156 deaths. 

Año has been saying that the number of COVID-19 cases in the city increased because more or less half of it are just doing home quarantine which resulted in the local transmission of the disease. 

He said government officials will go to Cebu City by Wednesday to check the situation. 

More government troops have been deployed in the city to assist in the strict implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in the area. 

Joint Task Force COVID Shield Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar said the augmentation of more troops is not "militarization" but simply for maintenance of "police visibility."

Experts said the number of COVID-19 cases in Cebu City may reach 20,000 by July 31. —KG, GMA News