ILOILO – Ninety-two houses in a neighborhood in sitios SEA-K and Core Shelter in Barangay Loong, Concepcion, Iloilo are on a three day “surgical lockdown.”
A 32-year-old male resident has tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – the town’s first local infection as of Aug. 10.
The patient had history of travel to the Iloilo Fish Port Complex in Barangay Tanza, Iloilo City.
The town’s latest case – asymptomatic and under a strict home quarantine – was among the 15 residents who were subjected to swab testing following their recent travel to the port complex.
“Subong nga adlaw nagguwa ang results sang apat sa 15 nga gin-test. Tatlo ang negative kag may isa ka positive,” Mayor Raul Banias explained.
To preempt massive transmission, the town’s chief executive issued Executive Order (EO) No. 50, series of 2020 enforcing the neighborhood lockdown beginning 8 p.m. on Monday and would end on Thursday, 8 p.m. Aug. 13, unless extended.
This measure, according to Banias, would pave way for contact tracing and thorough disinfection of the affected area.
He also ordered the closure of the town’s fishing port to allow decontamination.
TRAVEL BAN
Concepcion further tightened its travel restrictions in an effort to slow down transmission of COVID-19.
Banias’ Aug. 9 Executive Order (EO) No. 49 took effect 12:01 a.m. today until further notice. It prohibits people originating from areas under strict lockdown from entering the town.
“Ang aton subong situation tama gid ka worrisome,” stressed Banias, a physician.
Under his directive, Banias does not allow the entry of people from areas such as but not limited to Iloilo Fish Port Complex, call centers and barangays or municipalities place under “surgical lockdown.”
Drivers and crew of delivery trucks from areas under lockdown are to be denied entry.
Banias likewise prohibited his constituents from traveling to areas with localized lockdown.
“There are two alarming public health situations that are considered “super spreader” situations in Iloilo City specifically at the Iloilo Fish Port Complex and one of the call centers,” read part of Banias’ EO.
As of Sunday, Concepcion has seven infections among locally stranded individuals and repatriated overseas Filipinos. Of the seven cases, three were active and four already recovered.
With this development, Banias, beginning on Aug. 11, also enforced the following:
* curfew for all persons from 9 p.m. until 4 a.m. but with some exemptions.
* delivery and cargo trucks should be checked at the border checkpoint and all persons on board should disembark and follow the health protocols such as the washing and sanitizing of hands and should log-in and register and accomplish the health declaration forms
* all cargo and delivery trucks or vehicles for fish deliveries from the Iloilo Fish Port Complex or from other fish trading areas should be sprayed with disinfectant before allowed to proceed with their trip
* all persons aged 60 years and above and 18 years and below should stay at home but with some exemptions
* private gatherings such as but not limited to weddings, wakes, funerals, birthdays, and other private parties should not exceed 25 persons including the officiating priest or minister and then assistants
* religious fiestas should only be celebrated through a mass or thanksgiving serve and attendance to these religious services should not be limited to only 25 persons
* sale of alcoholic beverages should be strictly regulated
* playing of sports with physical contacts like basketball is not allowed
* the contact tracing team and diagnostic testing team as established in Executive Order 32 is hereby order to initiative active cases detection and disease surveillance by conducting targeted mass COVID-19 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test (RT-PCR) as necessary subject to the logistics capacity of the municipality and the sub national laboratories of RT-PCR test
* All persons swabbed for sample for RT PCR test should strictly placed themselves in home quarantine subject to assessment by the MHO of their houses; or isolation in the “Ligtas COVID 19 Isolation Facility” if their houses are not qualified for isolation. They can only be allowed to go out once their RT-PCR yield negative results.
To recall, the mayor ordered a weeklong travel ban on residents of Estancia after the neighboring town confirmed having two cases of COVID-19./PN