ILOILO – The municipality of Concepcion has gone a month without a single locally transmitted case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a milestone that has been welcomed but brought warnings against complacency.
“Yes, for 30 days we have no new local COVID-19 cases in our town. We did not only manage to flatten the COVID-19 epidemiological curve but we bended it to the ground,” an elated Mayor Raul Banias announced yesterday.
The last case of community transmission was detected on Oct. 8.
Sunday, Nov. 8, was the 30th day in a row that no new cases of the viral disease were reported.
“Cooperation, collaboration, coordination and clarity of purpose are the key elements of this achievement,” Banias pointed out.
To date, the northern municipality recorded a total of 48 confirmed cases since the virus arrived in early August. Of the total cases, 47 recovered and only one died.
Then and now, Banias warned his constituents that letting down their guard could lead to a second wave.
“Padayon kita sa pagsunod sang aton public health protocols like wearing of facemask, hand washing, social distancing, and avoiding crowds,” the mayor stressed.
Should his town remain coronavirus-free for two months, Banias intends to ask the national and regional inter-agency task forces to permit face-to-face classes in schools and daycare centers.
A physician, Banias recognized that distance learning increases the feeling of isolation among students due to lack of face-to-face interaction.
These experiences during this long period of community quarantine, according to the mayor, could sink some people into loneliness and depression, and even suicide.
Under strict regulation, Banias hopes students will be permitted to physically return to their schools.
For now, he urged the public to follow home quarantine rules and physical distancing./PN
