ILOILO City – It was around this time last year when the city and province of Iloilo, as well as other areas in Western Visayas, started logging cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) one after another.
With the rise in infections in the region once again – averaging 70 daily – local government units are tightening once more the enforcement of health protocols.
Region 6’s active cases yesterday stood at 1,526, data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed. Of these, 146 were newly recorded.
Iloilo province topped with 61 new cases, followed by Iloilo City (45), Aklan (21), Bacolod City (11), Guimaras (7), and Capiz (1).
Antique and Negros Occidental provinces had no new cases.
Despite the ballooning figure, “wala sang ipatuman nga ECQ (enhanced community quarantine)” in Iloilo, said Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
He issued the clarification after it was reported that Metro Manila, which is currently experiencing a sharp spike in infections, may revert to ECQ just like last year.
“ECQ mentality”, that is, Defensor pointed out. “Tanan nga paghalong himuon. Ang pinakamataas nga paghanda kag pagsunod sang minimum public health standards naton dapat ara gihapon.”
The lockdown bruised the economy, not only of the province but the other parts of the country, he said.
Defensor also clarified that there would be no moratorium for inbound travelers in the province “pero nagapreparar kita sang tanan nga measures pananglitan magsaka ang cases kag daku ang risgu nga masudlan kita sang iban nga variants (of COVID-19 virus).”
Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas, meantime, reiterated that travelers bound for Western Visayas are required to have negative results of their reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests 72 hours prior to travel.
He added that the city government is requesting everyone to stay home unless going out is a necessity or there’s an emergency.
CASES IN THE CITY
The COVID-19 numbers are increasing, data from the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) of the City Health Office showed.
The city records 15 cases on daily average.
The recent notable spike was when coronavirus struck over 100 call center employees in Mandurriao district.
“All mass gatherings in the city shall be limited to 50 percent capacity,” said Treñas.
The mayor also called on businesses to continue enforcing minimum health protocols such as wearing of facemasks and face shields, physical distancing, and frequent hand washing, among others.
“Please do not loosen your guard. The virus is still there,” he emphasized.
Flag ceremonies in Iloilo City are temporarily be cancelled until further notice. In lieu of these, a digital flag ceremony is encouraged.
For a week starting today, March 22, Treñas said, offices at the City Hall shall be at 50 percent capacity.
He ordered that the respective department heads should make the necessary adjustments.
All seniors, immunocompromised employees and pregnant women shall work from home.
PROVINCE VS POSSIBLE SURGE
Defensor convened the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) last week and discussed preparations for a possible surge in COVID-19 cases.
The governor ordered 12 district hospitals and one provincial hospital to ensure enough rooms/beds for COVID-19 patients.
The province’s quarantine facility at the Iloilo Sports Complex in La Paz district is also being prepared.
On March 10 and 16, Defensor issued two memorandum orders strictly enforcing the health protocols, particularly the 3Ms strategy: Magmaskara, Magdistansya, Manghinaw.
The governor also enjoined local officials to implement the following:
* Home quarantine for COVID-19 positive asymptomatic cases and those with mild symptoms shall be avoided. COVID-19 positive, asymptomatic cases shall be isolated in facilities at the barangay level. City/ municipalities and barangays are earnestly enjoined to establish isolation facilities for COVID-19 positive asymptomatic cases
* Close contacts shall be traced, identified and subjected to quarantine measures within 24 hours from detection of a COVID-19 positive case. If needed, contact tracing teams of city/municipalities may be augmented by contact tracers from other local government units and the Department of Interior and Local Government
* City/municipalities shall strictly monitor/follow clustering of COVID-19 cases, and execute containment measures (lockdowns), pursuant to the National Task Force (NTF) COVID-19 Zoning Containment Strategy./PN
