ILOILO City – People bound for this southern city may soon have themselves tested for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) upon arrival at the Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo.
The city government plans to put up a swabbing booth to get specimens from people arriving at the airport.
“This is to ensure that everyone going to Iloilo city is tested for COVID-19,” said Mayor Jerry Treñas.
The city government, he added, is now making arrangements to pre-position medical technologists at the airport to do the specimen extraction.
Late last month, repatriates arriving in the city were required to undergo reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for possible COVID-19 infection.
The directive was in preparation for the expected influx of Ilonggos coming home for Christmas, according to Treñas.
A check at the records of the City Health Office’s Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit showed that since Dec. 1, the city had a total of 12 COVID-19 cases among returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs).
These cases were initially found negative in Manila but when they reached the city, their second round of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction tests yielded positive results.
To recall, Treñas in early October issued Executive Order No. 165, which scrapped the mandatory swabbing of people from areas classified as “low-risk” by the national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force.
Under the EO, returning people must have coordination with and acceptance of the local chief executive through the Iloilo City Emergency Operations Center.
Notice of coordination and acceptance must be obtained from the EOC.
They must closely coordinate their transportation arrangements with the city’s EOC.
Since Dec. 17, the city’s daily average coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positive cases dropped to a single digit.
Treñas said this was the result of daily briefings and meetings of the COVID team, the fast testing of the city’s molecular laboratory and the cooperation of everyone./PN
