ILOILO – There are no adjustments in health protocols on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) despite the province having the country’s first case of Omicron XBB.1.16 or the “Arcturus” coronavirus sub-variant.
The case is a 16-year-old female admitted at the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao district.
The Arcturus subvariant is a sublineage of the Omicron COVID-19 virus which can evade immunity and is said to be more transmissible, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said the average daily cases of COVID-19 in the province did not change at 3.71 average cases per day despite the Arcturus case.
Iloilo also remains at the Alert Level 1 classification of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
As of April 24, there were 51,509 total confirmed cases in the province, with 53 active cases, 49,792 recoveries, and 1,629 deaths.
The 53 active cases were from Oton, Pavia, Pototan, Lambunao, Janiuay, Sara, Dumangas, Tigbauan, Calinog, Concepcion, Dingle, Ajuy, Igbaras, Maasin, Badiangan, Anilao, San Rafael, Tubungan, Santa Barbara, Passi City, Property, Estate, Leganes, and Lemery.
From April 2 to 22 of this year, the province registered 52 cases, or 3.71 cases per day, higher than from March 26 to April 8 with 34 cases, or two cases per day.
“Ang average daily attack rate is amo man gihapon nga level, buot silingon nubo, it’s not like before. Gin-check man naton kaina ang hospital utilization which is very low sa aton district hospitals kag ginabantayan man naton ang utilization sang tertiary hospitals. In other words, we monitor the severity of the disease. Sa subong there is no need to adjust, checking all gatekeeper indicators,” said Defensor.
The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) is still getting additional information on the official characterization of the variant, particularly that “Arcturus” is said to bring only mild symptoms.
Because of this, Defensor said he will not make adjustments, especially since stricter protocols will adversely affect the economy.
“Again, we cannot make adjustments…something that would [bring] additional burden to what we are doing na ang siling ko nga economic activities,” added Defensor.
But the governor reminded Ilonggos that wearing facemask is still required in public transportation or in crowded places where physical distancing cannot be observed. Facemasks are optional in open spaces and non-crowded areas, except for immunocompromised persons and senior citizens.
“Bal-an na sang mga pumoluyo naton kon ano ang maayo sa aton,” said Defensor.
The governor also encouraged those who have not yet availed themselves of the primary doses and booster shots to do so for an added layer of protection against COVID-19.
As of April 17, a total of 1,377,950, or 94.27 percent, of the total population in the province received the first dose; 1,292,571 or 88.43 percent received the second dose; 290,054 or 19.84 percent received the first booster; and 25,216, or 1.73 percent, received the second booster.
The province targets inoculating 1,461,756 individuals./PN
