ILOILO – For having the courage to right away rectify its blunder in summarily classifying the people of Guimbal town as persons under monitoring (PUMs) for possible coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Department of Health (DOH) Western Visayas got kind words from Vice Gov. Christine Garin, former mayor of Guimbal.
“I’m thankful for DOH kay they have the guts to say nga nagsala sila. Indi mahapos ina. Tawo man lang kita, nagsala kita. It’s not easy to say sorry, especially at a time like this,” Garin told Panay News.
Guimbal has a population of some 36,000. Residents were taken aback by the implication of them being classified as PUMs – that would mean they won’t be able to leave their homes for two weeks.
On Wednesday night, Director Marlyn Convocar of DOH-6 issued a clarification: “Since the municipality of Guimbal is on Enhanced Community Quarantine, all persons are on strict quarantine (not all are Persons Under Monitoring or PUMs). So, we advise that there shall be strengthened home quarantine in the two barangays where the confirmed cases are located. Also, heightened monitoring and social distancing shall be observed in other barangays.”
To date, there are only three confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Guimbal.
Garin said DOH-6’s clarification was crucial, considering the discrimination that Guimbalanons were subjected to right after the unfortunate PUM declaration.
“Tama ini ka-important. I am thankful, at least naklaro gid man kon ano insakto,” said Garin.
She revealed having constant communication with Convocar regarding DOH’s COVID-19 protocols, particularly in the classification of people as being PUMs or PUIs (persons under investigation).
“Ang guidelines ara kon paano ka mangin PUM or PUI kag may guidelines man kon enhanced quarantine ikaw. Pero the guidelines do not state nga kon may duha or may tatlo positive cases sa inyo nga area, bilog nga banwa ang i-quarantine. Waay ina ma-state,” Garin.
With DOH-6 rectifying its earlier statement, Garin said the discrimination on the people of Guimbal should already end.
She revealed one case – a pregnant staff of her sister Rep. Sharon Garin of AAMBIS-OWWA party-list.
The staff was scheduled for caesarian operation at a hospital in Iloilo City but right after DOH-6 declared the whole residents of Guimbal as PUMs, the hospital rescheduled the operation, said Garin.
Garin’s sister Vice Mayor Jennifer Garin-Colada Guimbal also welcomed DOH-6 rectification.
“Na-realize sang DOH ang ila mistake. Sala ang pag-interpret nila nga PUMs ang tanan nga Guimbalanon,” Colada told Panay News.
She assured the public that the local government of Guimbal has long strengthened home quarantine in the barangays.
DOH-6 declared all Guimbalanons PUMs on Mrch 31 after confirming a local COVID-19 transmission.
According to Director Convocar, the first Guimbal resident – a 59-year-old male – to test positive for COVID-19 and became the region’s Patient No. 2 apparently infected his househelp, a 51-year-old woman (now the region’s Patient No. 18).
As of yesterday, Guimbal had three COVID-19 positive cases, with DOH-6’s confirmation of one more patient from the municipality – a 58-year-old male (died on March 31).
According to the World Health Organization, people can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales.
These droplets also land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth./PN
