Gov’t monitoring Cebu City situation amid spike in COVID-19 cases — Año

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Wednesday said the national government is closely monitoring the situation in Cebu City due to the increase of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the previous days.

Interviewed on GMA News' Unang Balita, Año said localized lockdown could be implemented in Cebu City, which is under general community quarantine, if cases continue to spike in the area.

"Ang tinitingnan talaga muna natin ngayon is 'yung Cebu City at itong mga ibang lugar dito sa Cebu dahil for the last seven days ay tumataas ang kanilang numero at mabilis 'yung kanilang pagtaas," Año said.

"Si Secretary Galvez ay pupunta sa Cebu bukas para makipagugnayan sa mga opisyales doon kasama na rin 'yung regional IATF at local chief executives," he added.

As of June 5, Cebu City recorded a total of 995 active COVID-19 cases in the area, with 73 new cases.

When it comes to Metro Manila, Año earlier said he is still 50/50 on whether to place the region under modified general community quarantine after June 15 or to extend the GCQ being enforced in the area.

He said the inter-agency task force would have a meeting later to discuss the latest trends and development on the COVID-19 pandemic. From there, government officials will make a recommendation on what to implement after June 15.

The national government has placed Metro Manila under GCQ until June 15, meaning there had been some easing on quarantine protocols in the region.

The government has allowed a limited number of public transport to cater to commuters and some industries were already opened to the public.

On the other hand, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Regions I (except Pangasinan), IV-B, V, VI, VIII, IX (except Zamboanga City), X, XI (except Davao City) and XII, CARAGA, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao are under modified GCQ until next week. — RSJ, GMA News