ILOILO – Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has prohibited the holding of large public gatherings in this province as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
This prohibition is for 45 days beginning yesterday when Defensor issued Executive Order No. 028-B imposing such policy.
The governor described his order as an “additional disease control measure.”
Just this Jan. 23 he issued Executive Order No. 28 “implementing strict quarantine procedures and other disease prevention and control measures” to protect Iloilo from COVID-19.
In coming out with the additional disease control measure yesterday, Defensor noted the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in the country.
Yesterday afternoon, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed 33 cases, mostly local transmission.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales.
These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. This is why it is important to stay more than one meter (three feet) away from a person who is sick, WHO stressed.
Defensor also pointed out President Rodrigo Duterte’s issuance of Proclamation No. 922 declaring a state of public health emergency throughout the country.
He echoed DOH’s public advice such as “social/personal distancing to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.”
“The Department of Health strongly urges the public to avoid attending, participating in, and organizing events that draw huge number of attendees. The DOH likewise recommends the cancellation of planned big events and mass gatherings until further notice,” according to Defensor.
In fact, he added, the national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases also made a similar recommendation on March 9.
The task force recognized the need for COVID-19 “transmission preventive measures demanded by the situation”, said Defensor.
His previous Executive Order No. 028 directed the following:
* mandatory accomplishment of the “passenger declaration and health declaration card” by those entering the province via domestic and international flights or vessels.
* inspection / clearing / checking of foreign vessels including the crew for COVID-19 in their second or subsequent port of entry in the province by the Bureau of Quarantine
* mobilization of barangay volunteers such as Barangay Health Workers, Barangay Nutrition Scholars and Barangay Service Point Officers to monitor and record returning residents and transient with travels from countries positive for COVID-19, and similar strains; and
* monitoring and recording of guests from tourism accommodation establishments who have travel history from affected countries
According to WHO, the most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough.
Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually.
Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell. Most people (about 80 percent) recover from the disease without needing special treatment, according to WHO.
Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention, WHO stressed./PN
