ILOILO – The further downgrading of the community quarantine level in this province is most welcome, according to Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. But this is not yet the time to celebrate because the threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains, he stressed.
As recommended by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and announced by President Rodrigo Duterte, Western Visayas is now under a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
All industries and businesses are now allowed to resume their operation – although at only 50 percent of their operational capacity – to “rally the economy…under a regime of public health standards,” said Defensor.
For 73 days since March, Iloilo province was subjected to enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and GCQ.
Defensor urged Ilonggos not to let their guard down and consistently “mag maskara (wear facemask), mag distansya (maintain physical distance from one another) and manghinaw (frequent hand-washing).”
There is still no vaccine against COVID-19, he stressed.
Defensor recommended a distance of 1.5 meters between persons.
An MGCQ is the transition phase between general community quarantine and the “new normal” when restrictions are further relaxed and become less necessary such as limiting people’s movement and public transportation, the operation of industries and the presence of uniformed personnel to enforce community quarantine.
It was only on May 16 when Iloilo transitioned from ECQ to GCQ.
“I am not celebrating kay wala pa matapos ang problema. Amo man gihapon dapat ang aton panghugot,” said Defensor.
Just last week, the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) warned that countries where coronavirus infections are declining could still face an “immediate second peak” if they let up too soon on measures to halt the outbreak.
The world is still in the middle of the first wave of the coronavirus outbreak, WHO emergencies head Dr. Mike Ryan told an online briefing, noting that while cases are declining in many countries they are still increasing in Central and South America, South Asia and Africa.
Ryan said epidemics often come in waves, which means that outbreaks could come back later this year in places where the first wave has subsided.
There was also a chance that infection rates could rise again more quickly if measures to halt the first wave were lifted too soon, he said.
Still, according to Defensor, the further downgrading of the quarantine level and easing of restrictions in Iloilo is an acknowledgement of the effectiveness of the anti-COVID measures that the provincial government has been enforcing such as limiting the movement of people, the mandatory wearing of facemask in public, observance of social distancing, restricting public transport, prohibiting mass gatherings, and imposition of curfew, among others.
“Ang aton pagsakripisyo, pagpasensya kag pagpaumod nagabunga,” said Defensor.
All persons will be allowed outside their houses, although minimum public health standards will still have to be complied with.
Public gatherings such as movie screenings, concerts, sporting events and other entertainment activities will be allowed, but participants may fill no more than half of the capacity of the venue.
The same rule will apply to religious gatherings, community assemblies and non-essential work gatherings.
As of May 31, the confirmed COVID-19 cases in Western Visayas stood at 113 with 81 patients having recovered and 10 mortalities.
Thus, according to the Department of Health, the region’s active COVID-19 cases stood at only 22.
Here’s the breakdown of the 113 cases:
* Aklan – six
* Antique – 14
* Capiz – six
* Guimaras – zero
* Iloilo province – 20
* Negros Occidental – three
* Bacolod City – 10
* Iloilo City – 19
* repatriates – 35 (Aklan, two; Antique, four; Guimaras, three; Iloilo province, four; Negros Occidental, seven; Bacolod City, four; Iloilo City, 11)
Defensor said Iloilo province has only one active case left – a 34-year-old male from Alimodian town (Western Visayas’ Patient No. 103).
There has been no COVID-19 community transmission in the province, Defensor stressed, and no inter-municipality transmission.
“Ang transmission limited to high-risk contact,” said Defensor.
He commended mayors for their strict enforcement of quarantine regulations./PN
