The Department of Health Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (DOH RESU-7) said Monday Central Visayas was now on the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a television interview on Unang Balita, Dr. Eugenia Mercedes Caña, chief of DOH RESU-7, said, “Yes. We are in a third wave now.”
“We have been monitoring the cases for the last 4 weeks in Central Visayas, not just Cebu City, and our epidemic curve shows an upward trend," she said.
Cana said there has been "an observably steady rise" in COVID-19 cases in the region within four weeks of monitoring.
According to data from the DOH regional office, Central Visayas’ active cases as of July 10 totalled 8,241, including 419 new cases — 108 from Cebu Province, 76 from Bohol, 45 from Negros Oriental, 9 from Siquijor, 114 from Cebu City, 39 from Lapu-Lapu City, and 28 from Mandaue City.
The region’s total recorded cases rose to 76,175, while its recoveries stood at 65,656. Total COVID-19 deaths in the region are at 2,278.
Despite the reported third wave, Cana said the region was better off now than it was during the second wave of the pandemic in February and March.
Last month, the OCTA research group urged the government to pay particular attention to Cebu Island, the second most COVID-19-affected area in the country after Metro Manila.
Majority of the coronavirus cases in Cebu are in Cebu City, which is administered independent from the province.
According to Caña, the main reason for the upward trend was the more transmissible variants of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
"The virus keeps on evolving as it is its nature to mutate resulting in different variants which increases the virus' transmissibility," Caña said.
Also seen as a likely reason for the trend is the gatherings held by some residents like weddings, fiestas, and birthday celebrations in the region.
"These events drive the transmission because you bring people together without observing the public health measures," Caña said.
Other reasons cited by the official were inappropriate use of public health and social measures and inequitable and uneven distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
In Manila, the DOH headquarters said it was verifying that statement by the regional health authorities.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, said Region 7 logged a two-week case growth rate of negative 7 percent and an average daily attack rate of 4.5 cases per 100,000 population.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the National Bureau of Investigation was ready to conduct its own investigation of the reported missing coronavirus disease vaccines which were allegedly brought to a private house in Northern Samar.
“The NBI has a standing order from the DOJ to investigate the sale or administration of COVID-19 vaccines outside the authorized channels of distribution,” Guevarra said, in a text message.
“It will be ready to assist the PNP (Philippine National Police) and the provincial board of Northern Samar in any investigation of the subject incident,” he added.
The Justice Secretary made the assurance after the provincial government of Northern Samar started investigating the incident.
Reports showed that the Northern Samar Provincial Board had begun an inquiry into the issue, while Northern Samar Gov. Edwin Marino Ongchuan has reportedly created an investigating panel.
Published reports stated that 15 doses of Sinovac vaccines were taken last June 10 from the Northern Samar Provincial Hospital and brought to a private house in Catarman.
Last May, Guevarra directed the NBI to investigate reports of illegal sale of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination slots.
Last June 30, the NBI’s Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (NBI-TFAID) arrested three persons in Quezon City for selling 300 doses of Sinovac vaccines for P840,000.
Arrested were Harjit Kour Gonzales Singh, Calvin Maximilian Yeung Roca, and Alexis Franco De Guzman who were charged, thereafter, with violations of Republic Act No. 9711, the Food and Drug Administration Act.
