City residents told to avoid ‘COVID hotspots’

Iloilo City residents are strongly discouraged from doing non-essential travels, especially to neighboring provinces and cities with high COVID-19 cases, according to Mayor Jerry Treñas.

In his advisory issued last Thursday, the mayor advised that persons who proceed with non-essential travel to areas with high cases are enjoined to observe at least five days of quarantine upon return to Iloilo City.

The measure was recommended by the Iloilo City COVID Team after recent COVID-19 cases in the metro were traced to persons with travel history to neighboring provinces and cities with high cases, according to data from the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU).

“Due to recent incidence of COVID-19 cases traced to persons with travel history to neighboring provinces and cities with high cases, the Iloilo City Covid-19 Team recommends that non-essential travel to the aforementioned places be strongly encouraged,” the mayor said.

The advisory clarified that travels that are purely recreational, for leisure, or that which are not intended for work, business, or medical and humanitarian reasons shall be deemed non-essential.

Meanwhile, any person with a travel history outside Iloilo City who will exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 upon entry must observe strict isolation. Their representatives are also advised to immediately contact local health authorities.

Iloilo City has recently noted a significant drop in COVID-19 cases for the month of April.

From April 1 to April 24, the city recorded a 30.56 percent decrease in the total number of cases after logging only 259 cases compared to 373 cases in March 1-24.

The daily average COVID-19 rate in the metro also dropped from 16 cases per day in March to 11 cases per day in April, or a 31 percent slip. (ERS)