ILOILO – This province logged 16 additional cases of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), based on the genomic sequencing results released by the Philippine Genome Center on Monday.
These cases were detected in Oton (four), Santa Barbara (two), Zarraga (two), Dingle (two), Janiuay (two), Guimbal (one), Pavia (one), San Miguel (one), and Alimodian (One).
The status (either active, recovered or dead) of these cases was unclear, as of this writing.
Overall, the province had 27 cases of the Delta variant.
Iloilo also logged six additional cases of the Theta (P3) variant: Pavia, two; Calinog, two; Dumangas, one; and Oton, one.
Three more Alpha variant cases were detected from these areas: Pavia (one), Alimodian (one) and Oton (one).
The province also recorded three cases of the Beta variant – one each from the towns of Ajuy, Pavia and Tigbauan.
Backtracking and contact tracing was ongoing, according to Atty. Suzette Mamon, provincial administrator.
No adjustments would be made as far as quarantine protocols were concerned, said Mamon.
“Our ‘Barangay Quarantine’ amo ‘na ini ang pinaka-maximum (measure). Siguro isa ka factor nga nagasaka ang cases kay ari na sa aton ang nagkalain-lain nga variants,” Mamon said.
But the provincial government reiterated the strict enforcement of the 3Ms – Magmaskara, Magdistansya kag Maghinaw – to curb the virus transmission.
Mamon cited instances wherein people are sometimes becoming remiss of the minimum health protocols.
She added that, still, non-essentials are prohibited while the province is under a modified enhanced community quarantine classification.
On the other hand, Mamon aired her appreciation over the revival of border control points in Iloilo City starting today.
“It’s good actually, wala gid problema sa level sang province kay naga-barangay containment na gani ang province,” said Mamon.
This month, the province is logging 191 average cases per day – the highest among the figures recorded since the start of the pandemic.
As of Monday, Iloilo had 21,205 total coronavirus cases – 3,839 active, 16,810 recovered and 556 deaths.
The top 10 local government units with the highest cumulative cases were Oton (1,948), Passi City (1,442), Pavia (1,284), Santa Barbara (1,280), Miag-ao (844), Pototan (824), San Joaquin (822), Guimbal (686), Concepcion (579), and Alimodian (567)./PN
