ILOILO – Of this province’s 42 towns and one component city, only five municipalities have not recorded deaths due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) since the pandemic started last year – New Lucena, San Rafael, Mina, Tubungan, and Bingawan.
But they continue to have active cases – New Lucena (19), San Rafael (16), Mina (seven), Tubungan (13), and Bingawan (26), data from the Provincial Health Office (PHO) as of June 5 showed.
On June 5, this province recorded its all-time single-day high in new cases – 217.
“Everyone please cooperate,” stressed Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, acting PHO chief. “This surge in cases is serious and we need to act. Keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Boost your immune system. Wear facemasks. Wash your hands. Observe social distancing.”
Thirty-seven towns recorded COVID-related deaths since last year. These were the following: Pavia – 21, Oton – 15, Barotac Nuevo – 14, Santa Barbara – 10, Banate – nine, Leganes – nine, Cabatuan – eight, Pototan – eight, San Miguel – seven, Guimbal – seven, Estancia – six, Lambunao – five, Dingle – five, San Joaquin – five, Sara – five, Tigbauan – five, Dumangas – five, Alimodian – five, Barotac Viejo – four, San Enrique – four, Miag-ao – four, Igbaras – four, Calinog – three, Ajuy – three, Leon – three, Janiuay – two, Anilao – two, Maasin – two, Badiangan – two, Batad – two, Carles – two, Lemery – two, Zarraga – one, Concepcion – one, Balasan – one, Dueñas – one, and San Dionisio – one.
The component city of Passi City recorded eight COVID deaths.
“Discipline is key in the fight against COVID,” said Quiñon.
The provincial government has restricted people’s movement to slow down if not totally stop the spread of COVID-19. Only essential travel is allowed.
As of June 5, towns with the must number of active COVID-19 cases were Oton (151), Pavia (138), Miag-ao (100), Santa Barbara (84), Guimbal (82), Cabatuan (85), Leganes (72), Igbaras (58), and Barotac Nuevo (58).
Passi City had 119 active cases.
Towns with less than 20 active cases were Mina (seven), Leon (eight), Barotac Viejo (nine), Batad (10), Badiangan (10), Tubungan (13), Lemery (14), Anilao (15), San Rafael (16), and Dueñas (18).
Here are the active cases logged by the remaining towns: San Joaquin (31), Calinog (35), Sara (56), Pototan (36), Dumangas (34), Tigbauan (21), Banate (30), San Enrique (24), Janiuay (44), Concepcion (17), Lambunao (39), Zarraga (45), Alimodian (50), San Dionisio (42), New Lucena (19), Maasin (26), Dingle (23), Carles (37), San Miguel (21), Estancia (51), Ajuy (27), Balasan (21), Bingawan (26).
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Barangay Nanga, Pototan also recorded five active cases of COVID-19 as of June 5.
Over all as of June 5, the province had 1,827 active cases and 201 COVID deaths. A total of 6,543 cases have so far recovered.
“Ginapangabay ang tanan nga magsunod (health protocols) para mahagan-hagan na ang kaso sa probinsya… Maghalong gid kita tanan,” said Quiñon./PN