ILOILO – Twelve municipalities in this province have not recorded any case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), data from the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 as of July 3 showed.
These were the towns of Cabatuan, Badiangan, Ajuy, Concepcion, Lemery, San Enrique, Sara, Maasin, San Miguel, San Rafael, New Lucena, and Calinog.
According to Dr. Renilyn Reyes, head of DOH-6’s Public Health Program Development, 32 towns have COVID-19 cases mostly involving locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). There were only a few local transmissions or indigenous cases.
These are the towns grouped by district:
* 1st District – Oton, Guimbal, Miag-ao, San Joaquin, Tigbauan, Igbaras, and Tubungan
* 2nd District – Alimodian, Leganes, Santa Barbara, Zarraga, Pavia, and Leon
* 3rd District – Lambunao, Janiuay, Mina, Pototan, and Bingawan
* 4th District – Anilao, Dumangas, Passi City, Dingle, Dueñas, Barotac Nuevo, and Banate
* 5th District – San Dionisio, Carles, Balasan, Barotac Viejo, Batad, and Estancia
“Majority of the cases are LSIs and returning OFWs,” Reyes told Panay News.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell.
COVID-19 can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales.
DOH-6 record also showed Alimodian having the most number of COVID-19 cases at 13, followed by Lambunao with nine cases.
The 13 Alimodian cases were the following:
* 16-year-old female (Patient No. 278)
* 27-year-old female (Patient No. 279)
* three-year-old male (Patient No. 280)
* 28-year-old female (Patient No. 281)
* 55-year-old female (Patient No. 282)
* 46-year-old-female (Patient No. 283)
* 47-year-old female (Patient No. 284)
* 45-year-old female (Patient No. 285)
* 23-year-old female (Patient No. 286)
* 20-year-old female (Patient No. 287)
* 13-year-old female (Patient No. 288)
* 40-year-old female (Patient No. 289)
Meanwhile, Lambunao’s nine cases were the following:
* 22-year-old-male (Patient No. 151), recovered
* 33-year-old female (Patient No. 58), recovered
* 70-year-old male (Patient No. 16), died
* 39-year-old female (Patient No. 27), recovered
* 41-year-old male (Patient No. 28), recovered
* 70-year-old female (Patient No. 29), recovered
* 48-year-old female (Patient No. 30), recovered
* 44-year-old female (Patient No. 25), recovered
* 32-year-old male (Patient No. 183), facility quarantined
According to Reyes, COVID-1 9 cases in Region 6 spiked, particularly in Iloilo province, when LSIs and OFWs started returning home.
The temporary halt in the return of LSIs could somehow temper the spike, she said.
Reyes again reminded the public to continue observing public health safety protocols – wearing of facemask, physical distancing and washing of hands./PN
