NEW WASHINGTON, Aklan – Health authorities here denied rumors of “surgical” lockdowns after four residents were infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Municipal Health Officer Dr. Daystar Sedillo assured the public that the infected residents were isolated.
He also clarified that there were no border restrictions for people going to and from the adjacent towns of Kalibo, Batan, Balete, and Banga.
A 59-year old man from Barangay Poblacion was discovered to have contracted the virus on Nov. 5. His specimen was tested at the molecular laboratory of the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital.
He was confined in a private hospital in Kalibo, Aklan initially due to difficulty of breathing and weakness. Later, he was transferred to Aklan’s provincial hospital isolation ward for close monitoring.
On Nov. 8, his 47-year old wife and 18-year old son also tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, according to the Provincial Health Office-Aklan.
A 29-year-old medical responder from Barangay Pinamuk-an who assisted the 59-year-old patient to the hospital also tested positive for the coronavirus.
Currently, these patients are being isolated at the New Washington Ligtas COVID Center (LCC) in Barangay Tambak.
Meanwhile, “negative ang test results ng ibang medical responders natin. Naghihintay pa tayo ng test results ng isang batch ng responders,” Sedillo said in a radio interview on Nov. 11.
He assured the public that “we are always on top of the situation. Pinaghahandaan natin ang ganitong sitwasyon. We have to make sure na mabilis at tama ang response natin at nagtutulungan ang bawat isa.”
Contact tracing showed 13 high-risk contacts, including a barangay kagawad, all tested negative from coronavirus while four low-risk contacts were advised to self-quarantine in their homes.
Sedillo said barangay tanods were deployed in Sitio Dumlog, Barangay Poblacion to monitor quarantined low-risk contacts as well as the entry and exit of people.
Policemen were also guarding high-risk contacts including a team of medical responders at the LCC for their mandatory two weeks isolation.
The local health official stressed tougher measures and strict health protocols were being enforced like wearing of facemasks and face shields, social distancing and the prohibition of mass gatherings.
The Municipal Health Office, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the rescue vehicle and houses of infected patients also underwent disinfection./PN
