ILOILO City – The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing metrics that have guided much of the city’s response to the pandemic are likely to be erratic over the next week or so, according to the city government’s COVID team.
Fewer people got tested for possible COVID-19 infection in the run up to Christmas until New Year, with testing sites observing shorter hours and healthcare workers having holiday reprieves.
The result could be potential dips in reported infections offering the illusion that the spread of the virus is easing when, in fact, the numbers show little about where the metro stands in the fight against COVID-19.
On the first day of 2021, the city logged only one additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 and another one on Jan. 2 as of 12 noon, data from the City Health Office showed.
To date, the metro had a total of 4,667 COVID-19 infections – 4,397 of which recovered, leaving 120 active cases being monitored.
Jeck Conlu, COVID team spokesperson, said the city government is ramping up its random and targeted swab testing this January to detect post-holiday COVID-19 infections.
They will discuss in today’s meeting various strategies to identify areas with a potential risk for COVID-19 outbreaks fueled by holiday parties and reunions.
“We will identify suspected areas kay targeted swabbing ang obrahon naton,” Conlu explained.
The COVID team, according to Conlu, will use the reports of district doctors to identify as to which barangays, for instance, have many residents experiencing symptoms similar to viral illness.
He lamented that many Ilonggos ignored the appeal of the Department of Health and the city government to make holiday celebrations simple.
“Kadamo sang selebrasyon nga natabo sa mga panimalay kag sa kabaranggayan. Kon wala may magsintoma, wala man may magwa, magpakonsulta kag magpa-test,” Conlu said.
He also observed that many still stormed malls and public markets to shop for their Noche Buena and Media Noche, with majority defying safety health protocols especially social distancing.
Conlu said the downtown area was notably congested during the last two weeks of 2020.
Based on their random assessment, the foot traffic during the holidays was only 10 percent fewer compared to the last year’s holidays.
“Buot silingon, halos parehos lang. Bisan may pandemic, ang tawo nagwa man gihapon, ang tawo indi mapunggan mangompra kag ma-selebrar gid,” Conlu added.
Meanwhile, the city government will conduct random testing among city hall employees who will be returning to work today.
“Mapadayon ang random testing to make sure pagbalik nila indi sila infected kag kon may ara man ma-detect dayun,” Conlu said./PN
