ILOILO – Excited for summer outing? The tourism establishments – particularly resorts – you’re eyeing may soon be closing.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said he was seriously considering the closure of resorts in this province, especially during holidays and weekends, to prevent mass gatherings and thus stem the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
It’s a lesson learned from the 2020 Christmas vacation, Defensor said, noting that coronavirus infections spiked in January this year due to holiday gatherings.
“Basi matabo ‘na liwat sa Mayo…so the reason ngaa amo ‘na direction sang province,” he added.
Before December 2020, the governor said, Iloilo had a few COVID-19 cases recorded daily. But during the holiday season, infections gradual rose until January 2021.
Defensor said this prompted him to issue executive orders prohibiting public gatherings in the province.
The provincial government is intensifying preventive measures against the virus so it could maintain its modified general community quarantine classification.
Restrictions may be eased “kon madamo na sang mga pumoluyo ang nahatagan sang COVID-19 vaccine,” said Defensor.
The governor is monitoring the preparation of the 12 district hospitals and one provincial hospital.
The province’s quarantine facility at the Iloilo Sports Complex in La Paz district is also being prepared.
Earlier, Defensor issued two memorandum orders strictly enforcing health protocols, particularly the 3Ms strategy: Magmaskara, Magdistansya, Manghinaw.
The governor also enjoined local officials to implement the following:
* Home quarantine for COVID-19 positive asymptomatic cases and those with mild symptoms shall be avoided. COVID-19 positive, asymptomatic cases shall be isolated in facilities at the barangay level. City/municipalities and barangays are earnestly enjoined to establish isolation facilities for COVID-19 positive asymptomatic cases
* Close contacts shall be traced, identified and subjected to quarantine measures within 24 hours from detection of a COVID-19 positive case. If needed, contact tracing teams of city/municipalities may be augmented by contact tracers from other local government units and the Department of Interior and Local Government
* City/municipalities shall strictly monitor/follow clustering of COVID-19 cases, and execute containment measures (lockdowns), pursuant to the National Task Force (NTF) COVID-19 Zoning Containment Strategy./PN
