A suspected mpox case in Maasin City has prompted local authorities to reimpose mandatory face mask use and other health protocols, while an internal health advisory in Cagayan de Oro City has sparked a rush for face masks and alcohol, despite no confirmed cases in the area. These developments highlight heightened public awareness and a sense of caution reminiscent of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Maasin City, Mayor Nacional Mercado confirmed on his social media post on Friday, May 30, that a 55-year-old female is under isolation as a suspected mpox case, undergoing confirmatory testing. Local health authorities have initiated intensive contact tracing.

As a precautionary measure, Mayor Mercado announced the mandatory use of face masks in all public spaces, along with the reinstatement of physical distancing and other basic health protocols. “Stay informed, and let’s prevent the spread of the virus,” Mercado wrote.

The Department of Education Eastern Visayas clarified that, based on the latest report from the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU), no confirmed mpox cases have been recorded in the entire Eastern Visayas region. However, the Department of Health – Eastern Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-EVCHD) continues to urge the public to stay informed and practice preventive measures.

Meanwhile, in Cagayan de Oro City, a health advisory issued by the City Health Department on Monday, May 26, rapidly spread on social media, leading to public anxiety and a surge in purchases of face masks and disinfectants. The memo, signed by City Health Officer Rachel Daba-Dilla, mandated face mask wearing in workplaces and ordered “No Facemask, No Entry” signs at the City Health Office and local health centers, citing a “new reported case of MPOX (formerly monkeypox) outside the region.”

City Councilor George Goking, who chairs the city council’s trade and commerce committee, expressed concern over residents buying boxes of face masks and bottles of alcohol, warning of potential supply shortages and panic buying. He called for inter-agency coordination to monitor supplies and prevent price spikes.

The Department of Education Eastern Visayas clarified that, based on the latest report from the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU), no confirmed mpox cases have been recorded in the entire Eastern Visayas region. However, the Department of Health – Eastern Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-EVCHD) continues to urge the public to stay informed and practice preventive measures.

Meanwhile, in Cagayan de Oro City, a health advisory issued by the City Health Department on Monday, May 26, rapidly spread on social media, leading to public anxiety and a surge in purchases of face masks and disinfectants. The memo, signed by City Health Officer Rachel Daba-Dilla, mandated face mask wearing in workplaces and ordered “No Facemask, No Entry” signs at the City Health Office and local health centers, citing a “new reported case of MPOX (formerly monkeypox) outside the region.”

City Councilor George Goking, who chairs the city council’s trade and commerce committee, expressed concern over residents buying boxes of face masks and bottles of alcohol, warning of potential supply shortages and panic buying. He called for inter-agency coordination to monitor supplies and prevent price spikes.

The Department of Education Eastern Visayas clarified that, based on the latest report from the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU), no confirmed mpox cases have been recorded in the entire Eastern Visayas region. However, the Department of Health – Eastern Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-EVCHD) continues to urge the public to stay informed and practice preventive measures.

Meanwhile, in Cagayan de Oro City, a health advisory issued by the City Health Department on Monday, May 26, rapidly spread on social media, leading to public anxiety and a surge in purchases of face masks and disinfectants. The memo, signed by City Health Officer Rachel Daba-Dilla, mandated face mask wearing in workplaces and ordered “No Facemask, No Entry” signs at the City Health Office and local health centers, citing a “new reported case of MPOX (formerly monkeypox) outside the region.”

City Councilor George Goking, who chairs the city council’s trade and commerce committee, expressed concern over residents buying boxes of face masks and bottles of alcohol, warning of potential supply shortages and panic buying. He called for inter-agency coordination to monitor supplies and prevent price spikes.

Authorities in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental province have not reported any mpox infections. However, Mindanao has recorded over a dozen mpox cases this month alone, including 10 in South Cotabato, one in Zamboanga Sibugay, and two in the Bangsamoro region.