ILOILO City – The city government closed its offices yesterday afternoon to disinfect the entire city hall as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna, city government focal person for COVID-19, said the local government had staff who traveled to places with a history of COVID-19 local transmission.
Some of them have visitors from countries with local transmission, he added.
“That’s why for the safety of our employees and clients of city hall, we decided to do a cleanup of the city hall,” Fortuna said.
While the disinfection lasted half a day and work resumes today, Mayor Jerry Treñas said some employees were advised to go on self-quarantine for 14 days.
“We will be very strict,” he said.
The decision was based on the new decision tool released by the Department of Health (DOH) – all persons who travel in places with local transmission are considered persons under monitoring (PUMs). If they manifest symptoms they will be considered patients under investigation (PUIs).
“Since they travel with foreigners with local transmission in their country, then we will consider them as PUIs already considering that they manifest fever, cough and runny nose,” Treñas said.
The mayor said they will find out who among their employees fall within the classification once they go back to work today.
He also appealed for city hall employees to refrain from going on travels, even personal, to places especially where people coming from countries with local transmission converge.
“No travels whatsoever because the city hall caters to anyone who transacts with us. We have to make sure there is no transmission here and the people who come here are safe,” he added.
Treñas said “to a certain extent” Manila has to be considered as an area where there is a local transmission and “necessary steps” should be taken to safeguard the city.
Since March 9, the city government has been doing a series of dialogues with various sectors as to the measures they should undertake to avoid COVID-19.
Fortuna said based on the latest report of DOH, Western Visayas remains COVID-19 free. All the 42 PUIs were discharged and found negative for the virus.
As of yesterday, the City Health Office is constantly monitoring 74 PUMs. (PNA)
