ILOILO – Around 82 barangays in the province of Iloilo reported a clustering of COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday, May 25.
A clustering of cases, according to the Acting Head of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, refers to two or more cases recorded in two consecutive weeks within a single area.
Among the municipalities with the highest number of these are the following: Oton (12 barangays), Guimbal (10 barangays), and Maasin (10 barangays).
PHO records also show 19 out of 43 Local Government Units (LGU) had a clustering of cases.
These 19 LGUs are:
* Oton (Abilay Norte, Abilay Sur, Botong, Buray, Caboloan Norte, Cagbang, Pakiad, Poblacion West, Sambaludan, San Antonio, San Nicolas, and Trapiche)
* Guimbal (Bagumbayan, Binanua-an, Bongol, San Vicente, Camangahan, Lubacan, Nalundan, Nanga, Particion, and Torrelanca-Blumentritt)
* Maasin (Agrocel, Bagacay East, Bagacay West, Caigon, Daja, Mabriz, Magsaysay, Mandog, Naslo, and Taft Thompson Hughes Del Pilar)
* Dumangas (Balud, Bolilao, Ermita, Mabini, PD Monfort, Sapao, and Talusan)
* Calinog (Agcalaga, Alibunan, Camalongo and Poblacion Rizal Ilaya)
* Cabatuan (Guibuangan Tigbauan, Pungtod, and Tabucan)
* Barotac Nuevo (Tabuc Suba, Tabucan, and Tiwi)
* Balasan (Mamhut Sur, Salong, and Tingui-an)
* New Lucena (Bita-og Gaja, Cabilauan, and Wari-wari)
* Alimodian (Binalud and Poblacion
* Estancia (Botongan and Panian)
* Lemery (Cabantohan and Poblacion)
* Banate (Belen and Libertad)
* Miag-ao (Durog, Mat-y and Sapa)
* Concepcion (Punta Luis Poblacion)
* Ajuy (Culasi)
* Badiangan (Tina)
* Carles (Bancal)
* Mina (Yugot)
Quiñon advised all residents living near these areas to be wary to refrain from visiting them if it is not necessary.
“Please be careful… if you are living in these barangays or near these barangays, please stay home, quarantine and limit going out of your homes as much as possible. If you go out, don’t forget your mask,” Quiñon said.
She also proposed that officials of the affected barangays form a containment strategy or impose a granular lockdown to prevent further spreading.
The PHO recorded 7,162 total confirmed cases as of May 25, with 918 of these active, 6,056 recovered, and 188 dead./PN
