ILOILO City – This city may be placed under Alert Level 4 if cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) will continue to rise, according to Mayor Jerry Treñas.
Alert Level 4 is the second highest in the COVID-19 Alert Level System of the Inter-Agency Task Force of the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID).
It is declared in areas where case counts are high and/or increasing, with total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit (ICU) utilization rate high.
According to Treñas, the bed and ICU utilization rate in the city already exceeded 70 percent.
COVID-19 infections, however, continue to rise. Just this Saturday, Jan. 22, Iloilo City recorded 635 new cases, the highest in Western Visayas.
Data from the City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (CESU) of City Health Office (CHO) from Jan. 1 to 22 showed the metro recording 4,223 cases. Of these cases, 2,382 were recorded in just five days from Jan. 18 to 22.
“I am very sad. While we have done our best to ramp up the vaccination and boosters for everyone, cases continue to go up and our healthcare utilization rate is also going up,” said Treñas, referring to the number of COVID-19 rooms and ICU beds occupied by patients.
“We are now on the brink of being placed on Alert Level 4,” said Treñas.
According to Dr. Bea Camille Natalaray, medical officer III of the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6, several factors were causing the surge in cases:
* decrease in the compliance with minimum public health standards
* mass gatherings during the holidays
* convergence of people in enclosed places and close-contact settings
* the presence of the Delta, Omicron, Alpha, and Beta variants
Here’s the breakdown of new infections from Jan. 18 to 22:
* Jan. 18 – 371 cases
* Jan. 19 – 496 cases
* Jan. 20 – 463 cases
* Jan. 21 – 637 cases
* Jan. 22 – 415 cases
Regarding the two-week growth rate (TWGR) if infections in the city, from Dec. 21, 2021 to Jan. 3, 2022 41 cases were recorded – way below the 2,148 cases recorded from Jan. 4 to Jan. 17 this year (or a 5,139 percent change or case difference).
The average daily attack rate (ADAR) of the city also soared – from 0.62 percent in the Dec. 21, 2021 to Jan. 3, 2022 period, it jumped to 32.35 percent in the Jan. 4, 2022 to Jan. 17, 2022 period.
Treñas said the city is now at critical risk even if “50 percent” of hospital patients were not city residents but from the provinces.
On Saturday, Treñas conferred with the official of hospitals here. They agreed to add more COVID-19 and ICU beds.
The hospitals also asked for additional manpower (particularly nurses) from the Department of Health (DOH).
Today, the city government, The Medical City and DOH will open a 33-bed modular field hospital.
Under Alert Level 4, the following establishments and/or activities characterized as high-risk for transmission shall not be allowed to operate, or be undertaken:
* Face to face or in-person classes for basic education, except those approved by the IATF and/or the Office of the President
* Face-to-face or in-person classes for higher education or for technical, vocational education and training, except those approved by the IATF and/or the Office of the President
* All contact sports, whether indoor or outdoor
* Cinemas and movie houses
* Funfairs/peryas and kid amusement industries such as playgrounds, playroom, and kiddie rides
* Venues with live voice or wind-instrument performers and audiences such as in karaoke bars, bars, clubs, concert halls, and theaters;
* Casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments except as may be authorized by the IATF or the Office of the President; and
* Gatherings in residences with individuals not belonging to the same household.
On the other hand, the following establishments, or activities, shall be allowed to operate, or be undertaken at a maximum of 10% indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals only and 30% outdoor venue capacity provided that they have been issued a Safety Seal Certification. Provided further, that all workers/employees of these establishments are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and minimum public health standards shall be strictly maintained. Provided further still, that there is no objection from the LGU where these activities may take place:* Venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE);
* Permitted venues for social events such as parties, wedding receptions, engagement parties, wedding anniversaries, debut and birthday parties, family reunions, and bridal or baby showers;
* Visitor or tourist attractions such as libraries, archives, museums, galleries, exhibits, parks, plazas, public gardens, scenic viewpoints or overlooks, and the like;
* Amusement parks and theme parks; and
* Recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, skating rinks, archery halls, swimming pools, and similar venues./PN
