ILOILO City – For the whole week starting today, Aug. 2, only persons fully vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) will be allowed to enter the Iloilo City Hall.
The metro is under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until Aug. 7.
According to Mayor Jerry Treñas, the restriction aims to minimize the possibility of the Delta variant of the virus causing COVID-19 entering and spreading in the city government.
A resident of Mandurriao district was found infected with the more transmissible variant last week.
This new policy would safeguard both the city government workers and city hall visitors, said Treñas.
“Please understand that the city hall is an enclosed building. While there are windows that are opened, not all offices have windows,” said Treñas.
According to scientists, the Delta variant stays in the air for a while even if the infected individual is no longer in the area.
City hall employees not yet fully vaccinated will be on work-from home arrangement, said Treñas.
“Actually, this is also to protect the unvaccinated kay wala pa sila protection sa Delta (variant)… All vaccines give protection against severe infection from the Delta variant,” said Treñas.
Today, Treñas is set to issue an administrative order detailing the “no vaccination, no entry” policy.
He also reminded everyone that mass gatherings in the city remained prohibited.
The Delta variant is several times more infectious than the Alpha and Beta, among other variants, he pointed out./PN
