PANDAN, Antique – Noting that Western Visayas’ first two recorded cases of the Delta variant of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were from this town, Mayor Plaridel Sanchez VI urged his constituents to be extra careful.
“Indi kaya kon gobyerno lang ang maghulag. Iririmaw kita sa atun pagpakigbato sa COVID-19. Kinahanglan gid natun mag-ugyon,” he stressed.
The two Delta cases were an elderly couple. The husband recovered but the wife died, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed.
They were hospitalized in Antique on May 27 and tested positive for COVID-19 on May 29.
“May Delta variant ron dya sa atun banwa,” said Sanchez. “Indi ron natun paghulatun pa nga magsunod kita sa India nga nangin kritikal gid ang anda sitwasyon.”
The Delta variant, also known as B.1.617.2, can spread more easily. The strain has mutations on the spike protein that make it easier for it to infect human cells.
The Pandan couple’s specimens were sent to the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) for genome sequencing on June 11. Results were released on July 16.
The wife died on May 31 due to hypoximia secondary to pneumonia and the underlying cause of death was COVID-19 infection.
The husband, on the other hand, was discharged on May 31. He was asymptomatic.
Sanchez said people should stay at home and go out only when extremely necessary.
Should the go out, they should wear facemask and face shield and observe physical distancing.
He also stressed the importance of proper hand washing.
According to Sanchez, Pandan currently has 32 actiVe COVID-19 cases.
“Kami sa lokal nga pagdumarahan ginabakasan gid ang paghulag agud mapunggan ang padayon nga parapta it COVID-19 virus. Pero agud matuman ya kinahanglan gid namon ang kooperasyon it tagsa-tagsa kaninyo,” said Sanchez.
Antique is currently under general community quarantine with heightened restrictions until July 31.
“Pirme gid ako nagapadumdum kaninyo nga ang paagi sa pagrapta it virus, kita gid nga mga tawo. Kita and behikulo it virus,” said Sanchez.
He further ordered the following:
* curfew from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
* 30% maximum capacity in churches
* funeral wakes should not go be yond seven days
* no dine-in in restaurants
* closure of entertainment venues, billiards, any gambling facilities, and resorts/PN
