28/10/2021
The City Health Office (CHO) fully acknowledges the intent of the Sangguniang Panlungsod in passing the resolution requesting the LIATF to do away with the RT-PCR requirement for fully vaccinated individuals. We, in the medical sector, likewise would very much want to write this off from the requirement list for travellers to ease our burdens and pave way for lesser travel restrictions.
However, we take into consideration the general welfare of the people of Zamboanga and that of the neighboring provinces and cities.
As of October 26, Zamboanga City's COVID-19 situation remains volatile amidst the continuous rise in cases. There are 2,473 active cases, 17,050 recoveries and 912 mortalities. Bed occupancy rate for both hospitals and isolation facilities remains at a critical level and the oxygen supply is depleting overburdening our stretched health care facilities and health care workers. These are reasons why the city has been reverted to MECQ since October 16.
The RT-PCR requirement for fully vaccinated individuals should remain for 3 primary reasons:
• Only 25% of the targeted eligible population is fully vaccinated as of today
• There are vaccine breakthrough infections and there is not enough study to prove that vaccinated individuals are not infectious
• There are concerns about easy-to-tamper vaccination cards
We have to control the situation first before we can withdraw the RT-PCR requirement for fully vaccinated individuals. Otherwise we will risk another surge and another COVID variant coming in through our borders.
The City Government and the LIATF in collaboration with agencies and sectors concerned are exerting its best effort to arrest and curb COVID transmission. For now we need everyone’s support and cooperation to win the fight against COVID-19.
