ILOILO City – The surge in fresh cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) here is mostly driven by residents returning from Manila, Cebu and Boracay Island.
According to Chiqui Blancaflor, laboratory supervisor of the city government-run Uswag Molecular Laboratory, tests they conducted on swab specimens from returning residents since Monday last week mostly turned out positive for coronavirus.
Some of them were asymptomatic while others had flu-like symptoms, said Blancaflor.
The city government decided to make free Uswag Molecular Laboratory’s reverse transcription – polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for returning residents from Manila, Cebu and Boracay Island.
On Saturday (Jan.8), according to Blancaflor, the laboratory recorded so far the highest number of samples that turned out positive for COVID-19 since the start of the new year – 58 out of 265 samples tested.
A day earlier, Jan. 7, 41 from 357 samples processed tested positive for coronavirus.
From Monday to Wednesday last week, most of the COVID-19-positive cases recorded were returning residents while from Thursday to Saturday, mostly the close contacts of these returning residents tested positive.
“Kalabanan gid from Boracay — ang nagbakason sang New Year,” said Blancaflor.
For returning residents from Boracay alone, 30 tested positive for COVID-19.
Blancaflor appealed to the public, especially those who have a history of travel, to undergo testing.
“Whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, we encourage you to get tested as soon as possible para nga safe man ang inyo friends and loved ones,” Blancaflor said.
She added: “As long as may history of travel ka and you would like to submit yourself for testing, batunon gid kamo namon sa Uswag Lab.”
Iloilo City under pandemic Alert Level 3 from Jan. 9 to 15.
In Executive Order No.004-2022, Mayor Treñas emphasized that “to prevent another lockdown and forcible temporary closure of businesses in the city, certain protocols must be reiterated to maintain the status quo”.
The city mayor cited the data gathered by the Iloilo City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of the City Health Office showing a drastic increase in the number of COVID-19 positive cases in Iloilo City, and for which the Iloilo City COVID Team prescribed more stringent measures to stop the surge.
INBOUND TRAVELERS
Fully vaccinated travelers from Negros Island must submit a copy of their vaccination card or duly issued certification and valid ID while those partially vaccinated/unvaccinated must present a negative swab test result issued not more than 72 hours prior to the date of travel coupled with a valid ID.
Interzonal and intrazonal travel within Western Visayas, other than from those from Negros Island, are permitted subject to restrictions on the movement of vulnerable sectors but non-essential travel to Iloilo City is strongly discouraged.
Meanwhile, all inbound travelers from outside Region 6 such as returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Authorized Persons Outside Residence (except for APOR staying for less 24 hours) including accompanying minors aged (5-17), Returning Iloilo City Residents including those accompanying minors aged (5-17) years old, and essential travelers and tourists, regardless of vaccination status, must have negative RT-PCR test with specimen collected at least 72 hours before travel to Iloilo City.
The negative swab test result is on top of their requirements such as travel permit via the S-Pass system, valid ID, Vaccination Card or Vaccine Certificate Certification, and among others.
Upon arrival here, fully vaccinated individuals who develop COVID-19 signs and symptoms have to submit themselves to swab testing conducted by the USWAG Iloilo Molecular Laboratory, without cost. Strict isolation must be observed while awaiting release of results.
Partially vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, on the other hand, must undergo facility or home quarantine upon arrival.
On the third day of their quarantine, they shall undergo swab testing until the release of the negative result. If the result is positive, the subject returning resident must strictly comply with instructions given by the local health authorities.
ROFs with travel history from countries classified as Red, regardless of vaccination status, shall be required to complete quarantine under a home quarantine set-up for 14 days from date of arrival and shall likewise undergo RT-PCR testing, five days from date of arrival./PN
