ILOILO – A sharp increase in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases this January is threatening to undo the province’s hard-won gains throughout the pandemic.
With a few more days to go before the month ends, health authorities logged a whopping 500 new infections, topping the total for December (378), data from the Provincial Health Office (PHO) showed.
FAST SPREAD
In the province’s component city of Passi, over a hundred fresh infections detected at the public market forced officials to reimpose an enhanced community quarantine for two weeks.
What started as seven COVID-19 cases on Jan. 25 ballooned to 116 yesterday – so far the city’s highest single-day count.
These figures, however, could further rise, a worried Mayor Stephen Palmares said.
“Detection of cases is very important at this time,” he stressed.
Palmares had also since ordered the closure and disinfection of the public market after seven vendors were found to be carriers of the virus SARS-CoV-2.
He once again urged his constituents to religiously follow public health safety protocols such as wearing of facemask and face shield, social distancing and proper hand-washing.
NO SURPRISE
The uptick in COVID-19 cases came as no surprise to Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
“Siling naton sang una puede mag-surge after Christmas and New Year,” Defensor told Panay News yesterday.
Complacency and super “spreader events” were some of the key drivers in the new virus wave now gripping the province, the governor acknowledged.
COVID-19 spreads 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 also 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
Defensor lamented that many Ilonggos were easily swayed by the festive mood to visit friends and family, perhaps forgetting they were supposed to limit their activities to only what were absolutely necessary.
The cold weather, too, according to Defensor, was as contributory factor.
FIGURES
Based on PHO’s latest data, the province’s average daily count for new infection was pegged at 14.72 cases.
This resulted in Iloilo province overtaking Negros Occidental with the most number of active cases at 347.
Iloilo City was at second with 259 while former pacesetters Negros Occidental and Bacolod City are now third and fourth with 165 and 130, respectively.
Meanwhile, areas having the most number of infections as of Wednesday were Oton (387), Passi City (315), Pavia (291), Pototan (145), Guimbal (142), Santa Barbara (130), Cabatuan (126), San Joaquin (124), and Miag-ao (103).
Towns with no active COVID-19 cases, on the other hand, were Barotac Viejo, Janiuay, San Dionisio, Lemery, Carles, Estancia, Anilao, Tubungan, Badiangan, Bingawan, and San Rafael.
NO PUBLIC GATHERING
With local transmission showing signs of resurgence, Defensor once again reiterated the guidelines stated in his Executive Order No. 183-G, Series of 2020 issued on Dec. 3, 2020.
EO 183-G enforced additional and adjusted community quarantine measures on movement of persons, minimum public health standards in establishments, industries and livelihood sectors, and public event and gatherings.
“Subong, wala gid anay dapat sang public gatherings kag dapat tumanon ta ina,” said Defensor.
Some of these events include wedding ceremonies and receptions, public viewing during wake, funeral or procession, gambling, among others./PN
