ILOILO City – The city government’s COVID-19 Team has recommended to Mayor Jerry Treñas to “highly discourage” gatherings and seminars, especially those held in confined places.
Cases of coronavirus disease 2019 here are increasing.
Gatherings are safer if done in open spaces, said Dr. Annabelle Tang, officer-in-charge of the City Health Office (CHO) and head of the COVID-19 Team.
“New normal na kita. Indi ta na mapunggan. Siyempre everybody wants to go out and earn a living. But we have to stick to the protocols,” said Tang.
The Omicron subvariants of COVID-19 are seen to be one of the culprits behind the fast transmission and resurgence of cases here.
CHO data showed that for the past two weeks, 90 cases of subvariants of Omicron have been loggeg. More samples will be sent to the University of the Philippines Visayas Genome Center for genome sequencing.
Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna noted that when COVID-19 cases spiked to around 700 cases daily in January here – citing the report of UPV Genome Center – the dominant subvariant of Omicron was the B.2.3 while the recent dominant subvariant is the B.5.2 which is more transmissible.
The COVID-19 Team is urging to public to strictly adhere to the minimum public health standards – wearing of facemask, physical distancing and proper hand disinfection.
Tang lamented that some are not wearing facemasks anymore.
Even if vaccinated, one can still get the virus if health protocols are not followed, said Tang.
She also stressed the importance of getting COVID-19 booster shots as another layer of protection.
“You need to have a booster shot para maka-mount ka enough anti-bodies against the virus,” she explained.
As of July 10, Iloilo City had a vaccination record of 130 percent (at least one dose), 127 percent fully vaccinated (two doses), and 39 percent with first booster.
BARANGAY LEVEL ENFORCEMENT
COVID-19 Team spokesperson Jeck Conlu said they will strengthen the enforcement of health protocols especially in the barangay level.
“Based sa observation, nalipatan na sang aton maa pumoluyo nga pandemic pa ta, wala pa natapos. So dapat strict enforcement pa ta sa pagsuksok sang mask,” said Conlu.
Establishments will also be reminded of the health protocols.
Conlu encouraged the public to avoid eating with many companions and talking while eating. At City Hall, the City Administrator will issue a memorandum for the employees regarding this.
Fortuna advised parents to avoid bringing kids in malls, citing recent cases involving children.
“Ang nanay kag tatay naka-full facemask pero ang bata wala…kon malikawan man lang, indi anay sagi lagaw,” said Fortuna.
On July 11 alone, the city recorded 85 cases, the highest single day cases logged since June this year.
The daily average of new cases is 45 in the first 10 days of July.
NOT ENOUGH NURSES
Tang noted that while there are lot of hospital beds available in the city, there is shortage of manpower, especially nurses.
“We don’t have enough nurses to take care of you if you get hospitalized,” Tang said.
Meanwhile, Chiqui Blancaflor, head of the Uswag Iloilo City Molecular Laboratory, said most of those exhibiting influenza-like illnesses tested positive for COVID-19.
She encouraged everyone to get tested if they show symptoms.
They process 400 to 450 samples specimen during weekdays and 200 to 250 specimen during weekends.
“Taas gid katama ang aton positivity rate. Two days ago we were at 22 percent,” said Blancaflor./PN
