City continues to flatten the curve

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

 

Iloilo City continues to crush the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), based on latest data from the Iloilo City COVID-19 Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

The figures indicated that from 28 new cases on Nov 1, 2020, the city only logged 6 new cases on Nov 4.

The new cases are in Bo. Obrero, Lapuz; Dungon A, Jaro; East Timawa, Molo; Jalandoni Estate, Lapuz; PHHC Block 2, Mandurriao; and Yulo Drive, Arevalo.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said that the city has managed to control the infection to low single digits in just a month.

“We compared the cases from October 4, 2020 to November 4, 2020, and recorded an 89.6% drop on our cases. We are also pleased with our barangay officials that extend their efforts on this fight against COVID-19. I also commend my team, PNP, DILG, Philippine Army and BFP who works nonstop, day and night, to supply us with appropriate data and quick respondence during this crisis.,” Treñas said in a Facebook post.

Also, 3,631 of the 3,914 total cases in the city have recovered from the deadly disease, which means only 283 patients are currently being treated.

Data on COVID-19 cases per district from Sept 1 to Oct 31 also appear to be encouraging.

A case in point is Arevalo which reported a high of 37 new cases in September down to only 4 cases by end-October.

Barangays in City Proper district managed to reduce cases from 57 in September to zero the following month.

Jaro district saw cases soar to 62 in September but it was able to suppress new infections by end of October.

The same downtrend was observed in the districts of LaPaz (high of 35 to 2 cases by October), Lapuz (from 103 new cases in September to 5 by October), Mandurriao (from 51 in September to 1 in October), and Molo (from a high of 85 to 1 case in October).

Also, nine of the top 10 COVID-free barangays in the city maintained their status for 2 to 11 days. These barangays are Calumpang, Molo; Tabuc Suba, Jaro; North San Jose, Molo; San Juan, Molo; North Fundidor, Molo; Cubay, Jaro; Balabago, Jaro; Quintin Salas, Jaro; San Isidro, Jaro; and Baldoza, LaPaz.

Data showed that the city began flattening the number of new cases in October as the average daily new infections decreased from 46 in Oct 1-25 to 22 cases daily on Oct 26-Nov 1.

Since then, the number continued to plunge to low single digits.

But Treñas reminded the public not to be complacent.

Treñas said residents should be consistent in practicing proper wearing of face masks and face shields in public places, observing physical distancing, and frequent handwashing.

He also reiterated compliance with quarantine measures by concerned individuals.

 

DATA DISCREPANCY

Meanwhile, Treñas said he will meet with Department of Health (DOH) officials to discuss discrepancies in data reported by the City COVID team and the health department.

The issue stemmed from varying figures on new COVID cases in the city.

On Nov 4, the city reported 6 new cases, down from 9 cases on Nov 3. But the DOH central office website indicated that the city logged 41 new cases on Nov 4 and had the 5th highest cases in the country.

Treñas said he found out that DOH’s data was not “real time.”

“With the current issue with DOH’s recording, we discovered that real time update is not being followed. It is unfair to the Ilonggos since every day I meet with our Iloilo City COVID Team and we discuss and call the attention of barangays with the new cases. We have lowered down the cases and incorrect data don’t help with the decision-making of the city and the business sector as well.  We will meet with DOH to let them explain why they have been giving incorrect data and help them with their needs to solve the problem,” he added.

 

CODE TEAM

To further boost its response to COVID-19, the city government created the Iloilo City Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) Team via Executive Order No. 180 which Treñas issued Thursday.

The team is composed of several sub-teams with specific functions.

Dr. Annabelle Tang of the City Health Office will handle data management and information technology. The team will monitor and evaluate the implementation of all national and regional health policies in the LGU level and data management and reporting of the city.

The Prevent Team will handle the following:

-Package strategic communications

-Promotion of public health and disease prevention

-Health advisories and policies

-Link with Philippine Information Agency, national government agencies, and private sectors on the information and promotion of health policies

-Regular press conference

The Trace Team oversees:

-Surveillance (locate, profile, assess, manage and follow-up close contacts)

-Speed up contact tracing

-Profile suspect, probable, and confirmed COVID-19 cases

-Weekly reporting of clustering of cases

-Coordinate with the Department of Interior and Local Government

The Quarantine Team will handle:

-Policies and protocols on temporary treatment and management facilities and isolation facilities

-Coordinate with DILG, DSWD and DPWH

The test team will:

-Manage concerns on swab RT/PCR tests, Rapid Anti-body Test and Expanded testing strategies

-Work with government and private testing laboratories

-Improve supply chain management and capacities of testing laboratories

The Treat Team is in charge of:

-Clinical Management

-Enhance treatment capacity (Quarantine facilities and public/private hospitals)

-Designate COVID referral hospitals and non-COVID hospitals

-Mobilize and integrate efforts (public and private) of medical community and improve management of COVID-19

-Improve supply chain management of PPEs, testing kits and other medical supplies

-Link with Chief of Hospitals Specialty Medical Societies on health management protocols

The Re-Integrate Team was tasked to integrate ethical standards, gender and culture sensitive human development, interventions and social healing and reconciliation in the implementation of policies and programs.