Guv asks public not to panic over renewed COVID surge

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said on Thursday that the provincial government is on top of the situation, as data indicated that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is indeed rising again in the province.

Data from the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) as of Oct 19 indicated that the province added 59 new cases.

These include 7 cases from Oton, followed by Passi City and Dumangas (5 each), Santa Barbara and Sara (4 each), Cabatuan and Pavia (3 each), Barotac Nuevo, Guimbal, Leon, Maasin, New Lucena, San Miguel, Tigbauan, and Zarraga (2 each), and Anilao, Banate, Dueñas, Calinog, Estancia, Igbaras, Janiuay, Lambunao, Leganes, Pototan, San Dionisio, San Enrique (1 each).

The province also currently has 424 active COVID-19 cases across 42 municipalities and the component city of Passi, with only the town of Bingawan being COVID-free so far.

In the last 4 weeks, from September 21 to October 18, the IPHO has logged a total of 549 cases, with 382 in the most recent 2 weeks (Oct. 5 to 18) and 167 in the 14-day period before that (Sept. 21 to Oct. 4).

This was likewise on top of the IPHO’s Wednesday announcement of 14 cases of the COVID Omicron XBB subvariant, which is said to be the cause of current COVID surges in Singapore.

In his regular press conference, Defensor introduced Executive Order No. 260-H Series of 2022, which primarily extends the current Alert Level 1 in the province to August 31.

In addition, it also requires persons above 12 years old to present proof of full vaccination (primary series) before participating in mass gatherings or entering indoor establishments, including but not limited to:

–          In-person religious gatherings; gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 and for the cremains (cremated remains) of the COVID-19 deceased;

–          All indoor dine-in services of food preparation establishments such as kiosks, commissaries, restaurants, and eateries (no proof of full vaccination is required for takeout and outdoor dining);

–          All indoor personal care establishments such as barbershops, hair spas, hair salons, and nail spas, and those offering aesthetic or cosmetic services or procedures, make-up services, salons, spas, reflexology, and other similar procedures including home service options;

–          Fitness studios, gyms, and venues for exercise and sports;

–          All indoor cinemas or movie houses operating at full capacity;

–          Meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibition events, and 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;

–          Venues with live voice or wind-instrument performers and audiences such as in karaoke bars, clubs, concert halls, and theaters;

–          Indoor ancillary establishments in hotels and other accommodation establishments; and

–          Venues for election-related events.

 

The new executive order allows any of the following to be presented as proof of full vaccination:

–          World Health Organization International Certificate of Vaccination and Prophylaxis; or

–          VaxCertPH; or

–          National or state digital certificate of the country/foreign government which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement; or

–          Vaccination Card; or

–          Other proofs of vaccination permitted by the IATF.

Wearing face masks is optional in open, non-crowded areas, but when there are gatherings where physical distancing may not be maintained, mask-wearing will be mandatory. It is also “highly encouraged” for senior citizens and immunocompromised persons, especially those who are either unvaccinated or only partially-vaccinated for the primary series.

The governor said that the public did not need to worry so long as they observe the minimum health standards, reiterating his statement since last year to “learn to live with the [existence of] the virus.”

“COVID-19 is always a reason to worry, but worrying is not a solution. The solution is going back to our minimum health standards, wearing face masks when needed, handwashing, and physical distancing. It is important that we are following solutions,” he said.

Banning flights to and from Singapore was not on top of Defensor’s mind as there was no demand to resume direct services to the island city-state.

The governor also mentioned that there may be new programs to incentivize COVID vaccination, like the rice and nutrition programs that they have done in the past three months.

It may even be as far as establishing vaccination sites with proximity to public and private cemeteries and memorial parks.

The province, as of October 19, has had 49,396 total COVID cases which also include 47,317 recoveries, and 1,567 deaths.

COVID vaccination data as of 6:00 a.m. of October 20 indicate that there have been 1.29 million fully-vaccinated persons, but only 273,472 have had their 1^st booster shots and only 19,749 have had their 2^nd booster shots.