ILOILO City – Wearing of facemasks is now voluntary both in indoor and outdoor settings in this city following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is no longer a public health emergency of international concern.
Mayor Jerry P. Treñas yesterday issued Executive Order (EO) No. 055-2023 adopting the said new protocol pursuant to Department of Health’s recognition of WHO’s declaration.
“Nakita ta nga while ang cases gasaka, wala man gasaka ang aton hospital care utilization rate, manubu man gihapon. Mostly (of the cases are) mild. Ang natabu ang iban nga unvaccinated naigu sa moderate kag severe,” said Treñas.
He added, “The economy must move, we really have to move on now. So many businesses have closed because of COVID pero, ti, kita kinanglan na mag-recover.”
The EO, however, stressed that wearing of facemasks is mandatory in healthcare facilities, including but not limited to clinics, hospitals, medical laboratories, nursing homes and dialysis clinics; as well as in medical transport vehicles such as ambulance and paramedic rescue vehicles; and public transportation by land, air or sea.
The city mayor also highly encouraged the use of facemask among the elderly, individuals with comorbidities, the immunocompromised, pregnant women, unvaccinated, and symptomatic.
Iloilo City is currently under COVID-19 Alert Level 1 – case transmission and total bed utilization and intensive care unit utilization rates are low.
However, Treñas said the city remains adherent to the National Inter-agency Task Force directives balanced with the constitutional policy on the true autonomy of the local government unit as the authority directly responding to the ground situation in real time.
“While the local government of Iloilo City and the members of Iloilo City COVID team are constrained to make decisions protecting the right to life and provide for the right to health of the citizens implementing the health intervention measures adaptive to radical changes of COVID-19 transmission, it cannot be overemphasized that public awareness, vigilance, cooperation, and full adherence to public health protocols will remain vital in community-wide responses,” the EO further read.
Treñas reiterated his appeal to everyone to get vaccinated.
“Ang waay pa nakapa-bakuna, pa-bakuna gid,” he said.
The city government has scheduled vaccination for pneumonia, too, said Treñas, and it is also looking for flu shots.
The city mayor said the priorities are employees working on the streets of the city such as street sweepers and personnel of the beautification team and Public Safety and Transportation Management Office.
“Everyone should be vaccinated para may protection kamo,” said Treñas./PN
