ILOILO City – There is no need for Western Visayas to shift to a higher quarantine classification at this time despite rising cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to the Department of Health (DOH).
“We do not want economic activities hampered or disrupted in the middle of our fight against the pandemic,” said Dr. Mary Jane Juanico, head of the infectious diseases cluster of DOH Region 6.
Western Visayas is currently under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
There is no widespread increase in COVID-19 cases in the region but only in specific areas, Juanico pointed out.
Western Visayas would therefore adhere to the guidance from the national Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to “minimize to the smallest units as possible the quarantine classification.”
“The lowest unit as of this time is probably at the provincial or municipal level,” Juanico said.
The health official clarified, however, that provinces and highly urbanized cities (HUCs) or specific local government units may still request stricter quarantine depending on their COVID-19 situation.
In the first two months of 2021, the region was logging an average of 50 new COVID-19 cases daily.
In March, the daily average rose to 80.
On April 1 to 11, “ang aton daily average is 210 per day, mostly in the province of Negros Occidental,” said Juanico.
The official said there’s a possibility of a continued rise in cases up to the third week of April.
On April 11, Western Visayas recorded its highest (since start of the pandemic) single-day new coronavirus cases at 419. Some 263 cases were traced to Negros Occidental.
As of yesterday, April 12, total confirmed cases in the region reached 30,178 – 3,366 active, 25,999 recovered and 807 dead.
Here’s the breakdown of the total cases in provinces and HUCs:
* Aklan – 1,347
* Antique – 549
* Capiz – 1,395
* Guimaras – 372
* Iloilo – 5,546
* Negros Occidental – 8,600
* Bacolod City – 6,457
* Iloilo City – 5,912
Juanico also noted that the provinces of Aklan, Guimaras, Iloilo, Antique, and Capiz showed a significant increase in COVID-19 cases this year.
With the extended moratorium on the entry of travelers from the National Capital Region (NCR) and its adjacent provinces, Davao City and Cebu City, Juanico said this is the best time to curb virus transmission by reducing the mobility of people, enforcing minimum health standards and activation of Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams and safety officers in workplaces.
Local government units are also enjoined to intensify contact tracing activities and surveillance to asymptomatic individuals.
“Wala na sang iban nga preventive measure nga maobra kontra COVID-19 but to strictly adhere to our minimum public health standards with or without (new COVID-19 virus) variants,” Juanico said.
She added: “Bisan may variant or wala, ang aton pag-manage sang kaso will not be different. So, meaning the same ang protocols to reduce transmission.”/PN
