City logs fewer cases in COVID-19 ‘hotspots’

For the past few days, the Iloilo City Covid-19 Team observed a drop in new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases detected in two major hotspots, call center firm iQor and Iloilo Fishing Port Complex (IFPC).

In a virtual press briefing on Tuesday, Jeck Conlu spokesman of the Covid-19 Team and head of the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO), said the trend in new cases detected in Iloilo City has been decreasing in the past two days.

On Tuesday, Iloilo City recorded 14 new cases while 27 additional cases were logged on Monday.

Out of the 14 new cases, only four were traced to the fishing port while exposure of other local cases has yet to be determined.

“Kon mabase sa data, nagnubo na gidman. We are still collating and confirming sang mga nagdulugang nga cases so we are still finalizing if pila ang nagdugang sa fish port and iQor,” he said.

Conlu said that the drop in new cases can be attributed to the aggressive contact tracing efforts and imposition of localized lockdowns in the affected barangays by the Iloilo City government

“Maid-id aton contact tracing gani nakita naton kon may mataas nga kaso sa mga barangay. For the past two weeks, aggressive ang Iloilo City government mang-lockdown maskin damo nabudlayan kag gareklamo, ginpadamo naton ang facility quarantine para makuha ang mga positive cases sa barangay para wala na sila sang chansa makainfect sa iban,” he said.

Iloilo City also intensified its swab testing, particularly close contacts of confirmed cases.

A total of 17,568 individuals, or 3.9 percent of the total population in the city, were subjected to confirmatory testing.

As of August 17, 2020, COVID-19 cases in the metro totaled to 567.

Cumulative cases recorded from the fishing port and iQor are still being validated, according to Conlu.

Meanwhile, the IFPC will reopen to the public starting Wednesday after being placed on total lockdown.

Operations will be limited from 5 p.m. up to 10 p.m. Compliance officers will also be assigned in the area to monitor the implementation of health protocols particularly physical distancing.

 

MORE LOCKDOWNS

Meanwhile, more lockdowns will be imposed in the metro as per recommendation of the City Covid-19 Team.

Rizal Estanuela in City Proper with nine confirmed cases will be placed under total lockdown.

A total of 615 households from the said barangay will be affected.

On the other hand, lockdown will be extended in Zone 10 and Zone 15 of Calaparan, Arevalo; San Juan, Molo; and Rizal Pala Pala 2.

Surgical lockdown will be imposed in the following areas: Sinikway, Lapuz; Bo. Obrero, Lapuz; Quintin Salas, Lapuz; East Timawa, Molo; Kasing-Kasing, Molo; East Baluarte, Molo.

Whereas, confirmed cases in Benedicto, Jaro; Bolilao, Mandurriao; Taft North, Mandurriao; Bolilao, Mandurriao; Sto. Rosario Duran, City Proper: Calumpang, Molo; Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo; and Quezon, Arevalo are advised to undergo strict home quarantine.

 

FOUR NEW DEATHS IN WV

Meanwhile, COVID-19 related fatalities in Western Visayas swelled to 42 with four new fatalities recorded on Tuesday, according to the Department of Health-Center for Health Development Western Visayas (DOH-CHD 6).

In a virtual press briefer on Tuesday, Dr. Jessie Glen Alonsabe, regional epidemiologist of DOH-CHD 6, said the four new fatalities are from Iloilo province and Bacolod City.

“The four new fatalities include a 63-year-old male from Estancia, Iloilo who died on August 13; a 79-year-old male from Barotac Viejo who expired on August 15; and 74-year-old female and 57-year-old male both from Bacolod City,” he said.

Meanwhile, the region also logged 86 new additional Covid-19 cases on Tuesday wherein 22 are from Iloilo City; 21 from Bacolod City; 15 from Iloilo province; 15 from Negros Occidental; 12 from Guimaras; and one from Antique.

The bulk of the new confirmed cases are considered local cases (81) or those with no travel history outside Western Visayas while four are locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and one is a returning Overseas Filipino (ROF).

As of Tuesday, the cumulative cases in the region neared the 3,000-mark with 2,981 total cases wherein 1,666 remain “active cases”; 1273 recoveries; and 42 deaths.

Majority of the cases are asymptomatic (86.79%) while 10.38 percent are influenza like illness (ILI) and 2.82 percent are severe acute respiratory infection (SARI).

In terms of local cases, Iloilo City recorded the highest number in the region with 599 local cases followed by Bacolod City with 342 local cases; Iloilo province (272); Negros Occidental (214); Guimaras (31); Antique (24); Capiz (24) and Aklan (9).

Imported cases or those involving LSIs, ROFs, and APORs totaled to 1,466. (ERS)