ILOILO City – The Department of Health (DOH) backpedaled from its earlier decision to list as Guimaras’ first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a newly-returned Guimarasnon seafarer who tested positive for the virus in this city.
The provincial government welcomed the move which corrected the misimpression that the patient was in Guimaras or worse, got the virus from the island.
In Bulletin No. 39 released yesterday on Ilonggo repatriates (overseas workers who have returned), DOH indicated that the seafarer was being quarantined at the Western Visayas Sanitarium in Santa Barbara, Iloilo.
The patient, a 27-year-old male and a resident of Buenavista, Guimaras, returned to the region on April 29 together with other Ilonggo OFWs who got stranded in Metro Manila. The ship they boarded docked in Iloilo City where they were all tested right away.
This Guimarasnon has yet to return to his home province, stressed Gov. Samuel Gumarin.
“We are very happy that DOH listened to our appeal,” he said.
Gumarin assured the people of Guimaras that the provincial government was taking care of the seafarer’s needs while on quarantine and those of the four other Guimarasnon OFWs who also returned with the patient but on quarantine at a hotel in Iloilo City while waiting for the results of their tests.
The seafarer is now COVId-19 Patient No. 72 of Western Visyas. He is asymptomatic.
“Indeed, Guimaras remains a COVID-free province…(W)e pray for the soonest recovery of our infected repatriate resident,” said Vice Gov. John Edward Gando.
He described as “accurate, fair and factual” the latest DOH bulletin on COVID-19 cases in Western Visayas.
As of yesterday, Region 6 has a total of 72 confirmed COVID-19 cases. They were from the following areas:
* Aklan – six
* Antique – 13
* Capiz – five
* Iloilo province – 18
* Negros Occidental – 2
* Bacolod City – nine
* Iloilo City – nine
* Repatriates – 10
Of these 72 cases, 10 died and 29 recovered.
Eight remain admitted in hospitals while 25 are on quarantine (home or facility-based).
Governor Gumarin said the provincial government was working very hard to keep Guimaras COVID19-free because their public health system is not as robust as in other provinces.
Guimaras is under general community quarantine (GCQ) until May 15. It is one of the provinces classified by the national government as “low risk” in the spread of COVID-19.
However, Gumarin said, stricter border control remains.
Only the roll on, roll off wharves in Jordan and Buenavista towns are being used as ports of entry to Guimaras.
The Puyo Wharf in the municipality of Nueva Valencia is open but only for cargoes and delivery of products from outside Guimaras.
Only returning residents who had the occasion to enter the province beginning March 15 and who do not exhibit symptoms referable to COVID-19 are allowed entry but shall comply with the mandatory quarantine regulations.
Non-residents of the island are only allowed entry if the purpose of travel is to transport basic commodities and necessities; or emergency cases; or some cases deemed reasonable by the provincial government.
An “inbound pass” is issued for non-residents who enter Guimaras.
Outbound travels of Guimarasnons are still limited with only medical referrals, emergency cases and cases that are determined by the provincial government to be meritorious (a valid identification card and outbound / quarantine pass are required).
Trips of motorbancas plying the Guimaras-Iloilo route vice versa are only be from 6 a.m. until 4 p.m./PN
