ILOILO – The feared post-holiday spike in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases appears to be materializing in the province, according to the Provincial Health Office (PHO).
Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, PHO chief, revealed they detected 36 COVID-19 infections on Wednesday, so far this year’s highest number of cases recorded in a single day.
Of the 36, Passi City had 17 local cases; Oton – four local cases; San Joaquin – two returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs), one local case; Alimodian – two local cases; Concepcion – two locally stranded individuals (LSIs); Pavia two local cases; Ajuy – one ROF and one local case; Cabatuan – one local case; Sara – one local case; Banate – one LSI and Leon – one local case.
“Disappointing,” was how Quiñon described the sudden uptick.
As anticipated and foreseen by experts, Quiñon said the effects of parties and gatherings during the holiday season resulted to a “real spike of COVID-19 cases.”
On Thursday, PHO logged 17 additional infections, pushing to 33,141 the province’s total confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of the total figure, 340 were active, 2,706 recovered and 95 died.
The local government units having the most number of infections were Passi City (65); Pavia (41); Guimbal (40); Cabatuan (35), and Pototan (29).
Meanwhile, the towns with no active COVID-19 case were Batad, Badiangan, Bingawan, Lemery, and Carles.
Quiñon reiterated the key to stopping or at least slowing down the spread of coronavirus is to practice the “3M strategy” (Mag Maskara, Mag Distancia kag Manghinaw).
With COVID-19 vaccines in sight, Quiñon still warned Ilonggos against complacency. She once again urged the public to avoid attending public gatherings like birthdays, wakes and burials, among others, that could lead to more COVID-19 infections.
The provincial government allotted an initial budget of P95 million for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved the request of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. to enter into a multilateral agreement to procure 271,000 doses of AZD1222 Vaccine developed by British pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca.
According to Defensor, the province is prepared to implement its vaccination program. He will issue an executive order next week for its implementation.
Cold storage facilities are ready to be installed at the Iloilo Sports Complex and district hospitals, he added.
“We already want to start with the vaccination program. We have the chance and we will do it,” he said.
The frontliners, senior citizens, and those with comorbidities will be the first to be vaccinated.
The governor said the initial budget was based on the policy of the national government as well as the acceptance of the public to the vaccination program./PN
