ILOILO City – The city government banned mass gatherings for one week due to the notable rise in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections.
Mayor Jerry Treñas decreed the prohibition yesterday, citing the recommendation of the Iloilo City COVID team.
“We have seen that [COVID-19] cases increased in the last three days. The city registered double digit numbers of cases from Jan. 12 to 14, higher than the single digits posted during the same period in December last year,” said Treñas.
As an additional precaution, he likewise prohibited dine-in operations of kiosks joining the Dinagyang Food Festival.
COVID-19 spreads from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales.
These droplets also land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth
This is why health officials, according to Treñas, are insistent that people should strictly observe safety health protocols like social distancing and wearing of facemask and face shield.
The City Health Office (CHO) recorded 15 COVID-19 cases on Jan. 12. This is 400 percent higher compared to the three cases reported in Dec. 12, 2020.
On Jan. 13, the CHO also reported 16 new positive cases, 700 percent higher than the two cases recorded last Dec. 13.
There were 14 new cases logged on Jan. 14, 2021 – 366.6 percent higher compared to three cases recorded on Dec. 14, 2020.
As of Jan. 14, this southern city had a total of 105 active COVID-19 cases./PN
