ILOILO – From May 22 to June 4, this province recorded 21 new cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), data from the Provincial Health Office (PHO) showed.
From June 5 to June 18, it recorded 77 more new cases – more than three times the cases reported in the previous two weeks.
Iloilo was averaging 5.5 cases daily from June 5 to June 18 – sharply high than the 1.5 cases per day average from May 22 to June 4.
As for the daily attack rate (ADAR), it was 0.073172 from May 22 to June 4. It was 0.265745 from June 5 to June 18.
On June 19, Iloilo recorded 12 new cases – Zarraga (three), Barotac Viejo, Oton, Passi City, Dingle, Pavia, San Miguel, Tigbauan, Miag-ao, and Mina (one case each).
Also, five towns reported clustering (two or more cases in two consecutive weeks) of COVID-19 cases. These are the following:
* Barangay Luca in Ajuy (two cases)
* Barangay Poblacion in New Lucena (two cases)
* Barangay Abilay Norte (two) and Barangay Cabolo-an Norte (five) in Oton
* Barangay Balabag in Pavia (four)
* Barangay Bayuco in Tigbauan (two)
“Need gid naton maghalong kag mag-observe sang 3Ms: Magmaskara. Manghinaw. Magdistansya. Indi kita mag-complacent. Ara pa ang COVID-19,” said PHO head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon.
The province currently has 212 active cases, 43,619 recovered cases and 1,467 deaths.
Quiñon also urged the public to get COVID-19 booster shots.
As of June 1, 214,761 individuals have received their first booster shot while 914 got their second booster shot.
The government should expand the second COVID-19 booster doses to the general public for complete protection against the disease, according to Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin.
The Delta and Omicron variants of COVID-19, as well as other subvariants, have changed the definition of “fully immunized”, said Garin, noting that waning and inadequate protection from the primary vaccination series are the reasons why there are breakthrough infections.
“Everything must be backed by science. Trials have established the benefits of receiving two boosters. Those who would like complete protection should be allowed to do so and be given the option,” Garin, a former Health secretary, said in a statement.
She said “fully immunized” should now mean the completion of the primary series and two booster doses.
Sooner, she added, the primary vaccination series will have to be three doses, based on the behavior of the virus and its impact on vaccination.
“Walang overdose sa bakuna. Kailangan maintindihan ito ng taong bayan (There is no such thing as overdose in vaccines. The public should understand this),” she said. “Kailangan lang natin ng mga tamang tao at eksperto na mag-explain ng vaccination sa ating mga kababayan para maalis ang mga agam-agam at takot (We just need the right people and experts to explain the importance of vaccination and remove doubts and fears).” (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
