COVID-19 case spike in Cebu City due to social gatherings after Masses -Mayor Labella

Months after flattening the curve, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella on Friday attributed the recent rise in COVID-19 cases to the social gatherings of people after fulfilling their religious obligations.

Interviewed on Super Radyo DZBB on Friday, Labella said that some major religious events, such as the Misa de Gallo and the feast of the Santo Niño, were not the main factors for the spike of COVID-19 cases.

"It is only good also that friars of the [Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu] cancelled the procession and of course 'yung Novena Masses, 'yung face-to-face. Actually ang nangyari rito, it's not because of the violation of the programa ng simbahan. Compliant ang ating simbahan, compliant ang Basilica Menore," he said.

"They followed very strictly," Labella said, as he pointed out that only 50% of the capacity was allowed at the said basilica.

However, some of the faithful would still hold their social activities after the Masses.

"Pero ang nangyari, outside the churches, after the Masses, alam mo, very religious ang mga Cebuano. Even if they are outside the churches, they're really praying hard. And then after that, sabay silang kakain. 'Yun nga ang isa sa mga nakita namin na reason na medyo nag-spike tayo," Labella said.

"Kasi 'yung droplets pa sa pagkain-kain. They somehow relaxed after the Masses," he continued.

Labella made the statement after the OCTA Research team said the Cebu province, including Cebu City, is now a cause of “serious concern” after a surge in COVID-19 infections pushed the reproduction number of the virus to 1.57.

"Actually ang nangyari, 90% of these ngayon are asymptomatic," according to Labella, as he said they have already prepared their isolation centers and put into lockdown certain areas of Cebu City in response to the rising cases.

Labella said even restaurants, especially those inside the establishments, were also compliant to the health protocols. However, get-togethers of families were seen outside malls.

"At saka every after mga novena Mass tsaka 'yung Misa de Gallo, meron silang mga gathering. Yung study namin, doon namin nakita 'yung one of the main culprits, aside of the fact na maraming nagkukumpiyansa kaya medyo nag-spike ngayon."

The Cebu City LGU had also conducted "massive" contact tracing of second generation contacts.

Cebu City flattened the curve in August last year, as patient beds' occupancy rate at hospitals has dropped.—AOL, GMA News