ILOILO City – Breaking quarantine protocols increases the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spreading, the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 warned locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and repatriated overseas workers.
A total of 16,379 LSIs have returned to Region 6 since last month when the national government started flying or shipping them home from Metro Manila, Cebu and elsewhere, according to DOH-6.
“Be responsible. Follow quarantine protocols,” DOH-6’s assistant director Dr. Ma. Julia Villanueva appealed to LSIs and repatriated overseas workers.
In this city, LSIs who broke their 14-day home quarantine angered Mayor Jerry Treñas. He thus scrapped the LSIs’ option for home quarantine and ordered that this should only be done at the city government’s identified quarantine facilities.
“Voluntarily undergoing quarantine, even for those who are not experiencing signs and symptoms of COVID-19, is a social responsibility to ensure that our homes and communities remain protected from the disease,” stressed Villanueva.
The 16,379 LSIs that have so far returned to the region proceeded to the following provinces and cities: Antique, 4,393; Negros Occidental, 3,364; Capiz, 2,886; Iloilo province, 2,093; Aklan, 2,060; Iloilo City, 752; Bacolod City, 663; and Guimaras, 168.
Of these LSIs, 47 tested positive for COVID-19 in reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests as of June 23, according to Villanueva.
On June 24, however, 25 more LSIs tested positive for the disease.
That same day, the city government of Iloilo temporary stopped accepting LSIs from Cebu which was placed under enhanced community quarantine beginning June 16 due to rising COVID-19 cases there. The provincial government of Iloilo made a similar move, too.
But as early as June 20, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 6 already halted the return to Western Visayas of LSIs from Cebu.
DILG-Iloilo director Teodora Sumagaysay, however, made it clear that the return to Region 6 of overseas workers stranded in Cebu would continue.
“Overseas workers are required to undergo reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test (and the result must be COVID-negative),” Sumagaysay explained.
With this requirement, she said, “We are assured nga medyo slim ang chance nga mag-positive sila (in a repeat test when they arrive in Iloilo).”
LSIs, on the other hand, are not required to undergo RT-PCR test for their return to Western Visayas.
As of June 22, a total of 5,506 overseas workers have returned to Region, DOH data showed, and of these, 72 tested positive for COVID-19.
Here’s the breakdown of repatriated overseas workers:
* Iloilo province – 1,780
* Bacolod City – 831
* Capiz – 641
* Iloilo City – 629
* Aklan – 591
* Negros Occidental – 489
* Antique – 403
* Guimaras – 142
When would the suspension of LSIs’ return be lifted?
No date has been set, said Sumagaysay. But she indicated this may depend on the COVID-19 rate in Cebu.
The suspension aims to protect the people of Western Visayas from the coronavirus, she explained./PN
