ILOILO City – Should a lockdown be observed in Western Visayas to shield its residents from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) or stop the virus from further spreading?
“It is not easy,” according to Dr. Glenn Alonsabe, epidimiologist of the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6.
In a lockdown – as observed in Hubei province where Wuhan City, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, was located – travel restrictions were imposed. Those within the lockdown zone were not permitted to get out while those outside the zone were prohibited from getting in. Many were not allowed to leave their homes. Whole cities and towns were cut off from one another.
“It is not going to be easy for residents. Hapos hambalon pero kon ara ikaw sa sulod sang area…As much as possible the government is really trying to avoid that kind of situation,” said Alonsabe.
He believed the lockdown in Wuhan City was one of the reasons COVID-19 cases there increased.
China has seen 80,754 confirmed cases, 3,136 of whom have died.
Alonsabe also cited the lockdown on the Diamond Princess cruiseship in Japan. There were only a few cases initially but these grew, he said.
In Western Visayas, said Alonsabe, quarantine procedures appeared to be working for now. As this was being written, DOH had no recorded COVID-19 case in the region.
Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas said a lockdown may be imposed but only in areas with many confirmed COVID-19 infections.
“If there should be a lockdown it should be in Metro Manila, didto nagadugang nga nagadugang cases. I’m sure there will be more. Nag-24 (cases) lang ina (of March 10) because kuripot ang DOH sang ila test kits,” said Treñas.
For this city, Treñas ordered the suspension of mass gatherings, social events like barangay fiestas, public and/or private school activities up to senior high school, rallies and the like to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Invoking the General Welfare clause of Republic Act 7160 (Local Government Code) in his Executive Order (EO) No. 48-2020 issued yesterday, Treñas said “it is imperative that the city government suspend all major gatherings…to reduce the exposure and risks of its citizens to COVID-19.”
The suspension order will hold until further notice, he stressed.
EO No. 48-2020 amended EO No. 038 that suspended all major gatherings from February to March only.
Treñas also previously prohibited foreigners from countries with confirmed cases of COVID-19 from attending mass gatherings.
He stressed, too, that people with a history of travel to countries with COVID-19 cases and had not completed 14 days of quarantine were not allowed to attend mass gatherings.
Treñas further issued health safety guidelines vis-à-vis mass gatherings:
* Practice proper respiratory hygiene when at mass gatherings. This includes covering the nose and mouth with disposable tissue or elbow when coughing or sneezing. Dispose used tissue properly.
* Persons with signs and symptoms of respiratory infection such as cough and cold should wear medical masks.
* After contact with respiratory secretions, one should perform hand hygiene.
* The elderly, young, pregnant women and those with existing medical conditions should wear facemasks at all times.
* Organizers of mass gatherings should make available hand sanitizers and alcohol to the attendees.
* Organizers of mass gatherings must have medical and security plans approved by the Philippine National Police and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
* There should be medical teams and ambulances on standby during mass gatherings./PN
