ILOILO City – The 72-hour “extreme enhanced community quarantine” imposed on Barangay Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo district beginning May 6 ended at 11:59 p.m. on May 8.
Mayor Jerry Treñas said the three-day period was enough to trace and test all the close contacts of the six barangay residents who tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
During the lockdown, disinfection was also conducted in the barangay which has some 10,000 residents.
Treñas decided not to extend the lockdown after a meeting with medical experts from the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 on Thursday afternoon.
But all the barangay residents’ health would be continuously monitored, stressed Treñas, for symptoms of COVID-12.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough.
Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell.
“Barangay residents with symptoms would immediately be tested, then moved to the city’s quarantine center if their test results turn out positive,” said Treñas.
With the lockdown lifted, Barangay Sto. Niño Sur is back to its extended enhanced community quarantine status just like the rest of Iloilo City.
Residents may now be able to leave their homes but only for necessary undertakings such as buying food or medicines, or if there is a medical emergency – but they must show a quarantine pass, must wear facemask, and observe social distancing, stressed Treñas.
The mayor said he sent 10,000 pieces of facemasks to Barangay Sto. Niño for use of the people there.
The six confirmed COVID-19 cases in Barangay Sto. Niño Sur – all under quarantine – were the following:
* 46-year-old male (region’s Patient No. 88)
* 55-year-old female (Patient No. 73)
* 43- year-old female (Patient No. 78)
* 57-year-old female (Patient No. 79)
* 48-year-old female (Patient No. 80)
* 48-year-old male (Patient No. 66)
As of May 8, Iloilo City has 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19, data from the DOH Region 6 showed.
Of the 15, two are confined in hospitals while eight are under quarantine (either at home or at the city’s quarantine facility).
Also, four have recovered while one died.
COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China in December 2019./PN
