The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have spread to Central Visayas, Philippines on February 5, 2020, when the first case of coronavirus disease 2019 was confirmed in Tagbilaran, Bohol. As of August 2, 2020, there have been 16,220 cases in Central Visayas, and the region has recorded 642 deaths and 11,698 recoveries. There have been 8,692 confirmed cases in Cebu City; the highest record out of all cities in the Philippines.
Timeline
The first two confirmed in the Philippines overall were Chinese tourists admitted in a hospital in Metro Manila both who had travel history to Dumaguete and Cebu. The first recorded case in Central Visayas, and the third case confirmed overall in the country, was confirmed on February 5, 2020. The case was that of a 60-year-old woman who have already recovered from the disease at the time of the announcement and was already allowed to return to China on January 31. The woman who is a native of Wuhan, China had a brief travel history to Cebu and Bohol provinces. The woman was admitted to a private hospital in Tagbilaran on January 22. Samples collected from the patient on January 24 tested negative for COVID-19 but a second testing conducted, this time on samples collected a day before, tested positive for the virus. No new cases were reported in Bohol. The first cases were confirmed in Negros Oriental and Cebu on March 11 and 18 respectively. Starting late April, there has been a surge of confirmed cases in Cebu. By April 30, there are 312 confirmed cases among the population of the Cebu City Jail alone. By May 3, there are a total of 990 confirmed cases in the whole Central Visayas region most of which are in Cebu City. Cebu City briefly became the Philippine city with the most number of COVID-19 cases on May 10 with 1,571 cases, surpassing Quezon City, which had 1,558 cases at the time. After months of not reporting any cases, Bohol confirmed its second case on May 13. The case was that of an Overseas Filipino Worker repatriated from abroad to the province. Cebu and three of its associated independent cities remained under ECQ on May 1. On May 16, Cebu City and Mandaue remained under ECQ as eight other areas in the country was placed under modified ECQ and the rest of the country under GCQ. Siquijor became the last province in Central Visayas to log its first case. Its first two cases that of returnees from Metro Manila was announced on August 2.
Response
Local government
Cebu
On March 13, the mayors of Cebu City, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu suspended classes in all levels for both private and public schools as a preventive measure against the spread of the virus. The suspension of classes in Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu was scheduled until March 28. Schools, however, were required to implement distance education measures. On March 15, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia announced the imposition of a province-wide curfew from 10p.m. to 5a.m. the following day. Garcia also announced that the Mactan–Cebu International Airport and the Port of Cebu would suspend all arrivals and departures of domestic passenger travel, effective March 17. She added that residents of Cebu would still be allowed to depart the island province, but they would only be allowed to re-enter after 30 days. That same day, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella placed the city under a general community quarantine from March 16 to April 14; under the quarantine, health checkpoints would be established in the city's 11 entry points, the suspension of classes in the city was extended until April 14, and a four-day workweek was scheduled for city government workers from 8a.m. to 6p.m. On March 16, following the imposition of a general community quarantine in Cebu City, Mayor Labella issued an executive order prohibiting the sale, distribution, and consumption of alcoholic beverages in all public places. On March 19, Mayor Labella ordered the temporary closure of all commercial establishments in the city, including all malls and the Cebu City Sports Complex but excluding establishments providing essential goods and services, until the end of the "general community quarantine". On March 25, Governor Garcia signed Executive Order No. 5-N placing the entire Cebu province under enhanced community quarantine from March 27. Due to this, mass public transports are suspended and restricting land and sea travel. On April 8, Lapu Lapu City Mayor Junard "Ahong" Chan issued an Executive Order extending the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine until April 28, 2020. On April 14, 2020, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella pushed the extension of the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine for the City up to April 28, 2020. A private initiative called Bayanihan Cebu PH has set up quarantine facilities known as Bayanihan Field Centers for COVID-19 patients in Cebu which are to be run by the Central Visayas field office of the Department of Health. The first two centers were set up at the IC3 Convention Center and the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu's satellite campus.
Bohol
On March 16, 2020, Bohol community quarantine had started, Governor Arthur Yap announced to be effective until April 12. Province-wide curfew starts from 9 pm until 5 am. On April 7, 2020, According to Provincial Administrator Kathyrin Pioquinto they will extend the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine and planning to extend the quarantine until April 30, 2020.
Negros Oriental
On March 31, Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo signed an executive order placing the entire province under enhanced community quarantine from April 3 to 18. Under the said order, residents must stay at home, limit the business hours for selected establishments, and suspending the mass public transit, and restrict land and sea travel among others.
