ILOILO – With the rise of cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) around Western Visayas, what is the stance of the Iloilo provincial government on facemask use?
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said the current COVID-19 has a different presentation compared to when the pandemic peaked.
“It’s the new flu, so we cannot go back to the old regime, lain ang reaction naton subong, it’s like reacting to the common flu, amo na dapat ang treatment kay ngaa? We cannot sacrifice the part of the economy and mobility,” Defensor said when Panay News asked about the possibility of renewing the call on using facemasks just as the Iloilo City Government did.
“I will see kon ano ang advisory sang DOH [Department of Health], pero amo na gani ang siling ko ang presentation niya does not merit a reaction pareho sang una,” he added.
But the governor said it is fine if some individuals continue to use facemasks, explaining that people in other countries have been using them even before COVID-19 to generally protect themselves from diseases.
Defensor said if others, especially the vulnerable sectors, want to protect themselves during flu season, there is no problem.
Data from DOH-6 showed that the region had an additional 238 cases or a daily average of 34 cases from Dec. 17 to 23.
This is higher by nine percent compared to reported cases in the previous week or morbidity week 50.
In total, there are 1,979 active cases of COVID-19 here. Below is the breakdown:
* less than one year old – 116 cases
* one to 10 years old – 112 cases
* 11 to 20 years old – 109 cases
* 21 to 30 years old – 350 cases
* 31 to 40 years old – 275 cases
* 41 to 50 years old – 174 cases
* 51 to 60 years old – 225 cases
* 61 to 70 years old – 231 cases
* 71 to 80 years old – 216 cases
* 81 to 90 years old – 140 cases
* above 90 years old – 1 cases
DOH-6 Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) head Dr. Mary Jane Roches Juanico-Esteva reminded the vulnerable population, including pregnant women, persons with comorbidities, senior citizens, and those without or with incomplete COVID-19, flu and pneumonia vaccines, to be strict in imposing minimum public health standards.
“Naga-advise man kita nga kon sila may ginabatyag nga ubo, sip-on, kag hilanat or daw trangkaso nga sintomas kon mahimu indi lang gid sila anay mag-intra or mag-impon sa gatherings agud indi makalaton kag kon indi gid malikawan nga mahimu magamit sang facemasks, frequent nga maghugas sang kamot, and i-make sure ang venue well ventilated,” she said.
Juanico-Esteva clarified that DOH-6 does not impose the mandatory use of facemasks but highly recommends it./PN
