ILOILO – To prevent the further spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. once again ordered a thorough implementation of health protocols and quarantine measures in the province’s 42 municipalities and one component city.
Yesterday, Defensor issued a memorandum order to all municipal mayors, punong barangays, provincial director and municipal and city police chiefs reiterating Executive Order No. 183, Series of 2020 with the subject: “Plan for Rehabilitation and Transformation of the Province of Iloilo to Catalyze Recovery or PLAN RT-PCR.”
The governor underscored the enforcement of 3Ms – magmaskara, magdistansya and manghinaw.
Public gatherings are also prohibited including:
* birthday, fiesta, anniversary, wedding and baptismal celebrations;
* funeral wake public viewing; and
* local government unit (LGU) events such as festivals and other socio-cultural activities
“All are earnestly enjoined to avoid gatherings where people closely mingle, and where people eat and drink together,” Defensor added.
Likewise, there should be “no parties and celebrations in resorts and similar establishments, only family, household or small group excursions.”
Defensor noted that recently several municipalities had a spike in COVID-19 cases “bangod kay may ga conduct gatherings and naghalog sa quarantine measures.”
“All are earnestly enjoined to strictly implement health protocols and community quarantine measures in public markets, and other similar establishments,” the governor added, citing the cases in Passi City and Banate public markets.
Defensor reiterated these protocols in public markets:
a. wearing of facemasks and face shield
b. provide available/accessible hand wash or disinfected
c. suspension of customary market day and regulation of the number of persons inside the market for decongestions
d. conduct of regular decontamination procedures patrolling, inspection an
Defensor also requested the Iloilo Police Provincial Office to conduct patrolling, inspection and monitoring to all areas across the province.
With police visibility, Defensor said, the public would be encouraged to observe proper health protocols.
As of this writing, the province had 4,734 total confirmed COVID-19 cases – 608 were active, 3,999 recovered and 127 deaths.
The LGUs with the highest confirmed cases were Passi City (650); Oton (420); Pavia (355); Miag-ao (201); and Barotac Viejo (171).
Meanwhile, the municipalities of Batad, Maasin, Igbaras, and New Lucena had no active cases of coronavirus./PN
