YOUNG ADULTS AT RISK, TOO; CHO: More young Ilonggos getting COVID-19

ILOILO City – Young adults are not invulnerable to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The SARS-CoV-2 virus capable of killing a 60-year-old individual may also take down a 20-year-old person, according to Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna of the City Health Office (CHO).

“Wala sang pili ang COVID-19. Halin sa baby asta sa tigulang, pwede gid sila [ma-infect] kun wala gina-follow ang health protocols naton,” Fortuna stressed.

He debunked the “perception of invincibility” of many Ilonggos believing they are less susceptible to coronavirus, as shown by a recent survey of Random Access Consultants, Inc. (RACI).

The RACI study revealed many Ilonggos had the notion that only persons over 60 years old and children below five years old were prone to the viral illness.

The respondents of the Oct. 24 to 27 survey were between 18 to 60 years old.

It also discovered that many city residents, despite being aware of the minimum health standards, were not keen on observing them.

Meanwhile, only a small minority used facemask all the time in the presence of old people; and less than 50 percent used facemask all the time in the presence of babies.

An alarmed Mayor Jerry Treñas underscored the need for a wider and strengthened information drive on COVID-19.

“Kulang gid sa understanding ang mga tawo,” the mayor lamented.

According to Treñas, early data from the CHO focused on older people, especially those with major health problems, as those most likely to be infected by COVID-19.

Now, as COVID-19 testing ramps up in the metro, there are more recognized cases and the trend is becoming clearer.

“Gasiling sila ang malatnan ang tigulang kag bata lang pero ang data ta nagapakita bataon tanan,” Treñas said.

In fact, according to Treñas, COVID-19 cases recorded by the CHO in October were mostly young adults between 20 to 30 years old.

The second age group that made up majority of the recent positive cases was between 31 to 40 years old, followed by those between 41 to 50 years old.

Treñas acknowledged the limited evidence on the physical effects of the disease in young people. But he cited epidemiological data suggesting that COVID-19 is less severe in young adults than older adults, and recovery among people in their 20s and 30s is usually rapid and complete.

Nevertheless, this should not be a reason for the Ilonggos to be complacent, the mayor stressed.

He appealed for help from various media outlets during yesterday’s presentation of the result of the RACI survey.

“Ma-correct ta ini nga pang-intindi paagi sa inyo,” Treñas said.

Meantime, other findings of the survey also showed that majority of the respondents claimed the symptoms of COVID-19 included fever and cough yet when a family member has flu, an overwhelming majority just provide medication for the patient. Very few bring the patient to the doctor for check-up. Few also ask for advice from Barangay Health Workers some other authority.

Majority of the respondents believed washing of hands with soap and water or with alcohol helps prevent the spread of COVID, yet not everyone wash their hands with soap and water or alcohol.

While the majority is aware that they should have clean hands all the time, a significant percentage do not wash their hands all the time after holding money, before eating or after using the toilet.

Fortuna advised city residents to seek medical help if a family member shows COVID-like symptoms. City health centers are open from Monday to Friday. Or they can ask for guidance from Barangay Health Workers, he said.

Fortuna further noted that the city’s step up facility (St. Therese Hospital) can be accessed 24/7 via telephone.

“We have 24/7 doctors nga pwede gid ya ka tele-medicine. They can consult through phone,” said Fortuna.

On the other hand, the survey also showed that social distancing, the easiest to follow among the many protocols, is observed by a small majority.

There are respondents who observe it always and some who observe it not so often.

Changing of clothes upon reaching home is observed by a small majority all the time.

Some important protocols such as not going out of the house when one is not feeling well; physical

avoidance of other family members when one has fever or flu; use of separate utensils when one

has flu; and using a separate room in the house when one has flu is followed by less than the

majority all the time.

Taking of vitamin C with zinc is done by a small majority all the time.

Meanwhile, majority of the respondents believed the mayor is in the right direction in his fight to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Iloilo City.

Also, majority believed the Treñas administration can stop the spread of COVID in Iloilo City by January 2021./PN