THE now controversial beach party event held in San Francisco, Camotes Islands on July 10 reflects how life was in the province of Cebu until a few weeks ago: quite normal. Parties and gatherings were common (and legal), the wearing of face masks and observance of other Covid-related health protocols not strictly enforced. Covid infections and deaths were few. That was then.

Now, hospitals that are inadequately equipped and manned to handle a pandemic are struggling to cope with the influx of patients, persons with flu-like symptoms and death. Limited testing and lack of postmortem swabbing or thorough autopsy make it impossible to ascertain if Covid was a factor in the fatalities, who were dead on arrival.

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