Iloilo City logs more than 1,000 cases in two weeks

Iloilo City is facing another surge in COVID-19 cases as the total registered cases logged in the past 14 days breached the 1,000-mark.

From May 16-29, 2021, a total of 1,021 cases were recorded in the city, based on the data from the Iloilo City Covid-19 Emergency Operations Center.

The city experienced its highest daily tally last May 28 with 120 new cases.

The city also reported more than 100 cases daily from May 26 to May 29.

On May 26, the city logged 101 new cases followed by 115 cases on May 27, 120 cases on May 28 and 107 cases on May 29.

Barangays with the highest number of cases have been placed on surgical lockdown to control the spread of the virus.

Meanwhile, the number of infected City Hall employees rose to 133 as of May 29.

The Iloilo City Hall building suspended its operations to give way to the mass testing of employees.

“We are facing a real surge. Please stay at home and continue to strictly observe the minimum health protocols. Iloilo City and the other provinces are facing a strong surge and we need to act fast to respond to the problem. Let us flatten the surge together,” Mayor Jerry Treñas said in a statement.

According to Treñas, he sought the help of the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) to assist the hospitals in the city which are already overwhelmed with patients.

“I am requesting DOH, DILG, and OCD to help the hospitals with their requirements for additional nurses. We will provide the nursing aides and the institutional workers while OCD will look for nurses from the uniformed personnel. I also texted Sec. Wendel Avisado requesting additional funds for DOH Region 6 so that they can hire nurses in order that the hospitals can open additional COVID beds,” he added.

The city has already requested the national government for an extension of its modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) classification until June 15 following the continued surge in cases.

Initially, the city was placed on MECQ from May 24 to May 31.

 

MASS VACCINATION

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out of the Iloilo City government continues today, May 31, 2021, at a bigger site at the Iloilo Convention Center (ICON) in Mandurriao district.

Treñas announced that the city will continue its vaccination rollout this week amid the surge in COVID-19 cases.

The first dose will be administered on May 31 at the ICON and on June 1 at the ICON and CPU Gym while the 2nd dose will continue on June 4 at the ICON also.

Around 10,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines allocated to Iloilo City arrived last week.

Treñas has reminded residents that only those with tickets will be allowed to enter the vaccination areas in their scheduled time. Walk-ins are also prohibited.

“We are reminding everyone of their schedule for Covid-19 vaccination as we try to protect more Ilonggos from the deadly virus. Please bring your tickets and come at the scheduled time. Remember to strictly follow the protocols for your safety,” he said in a statement.

As of May 25, 2021, a total of 30,426 individuals have been vaccinated by the Iloilo City government including 26,011 who received their 1st dose while 4,415 got their second dose.

Treñas also requested for the massive simultaneous vaccination of people aged 18 years old and above as the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) noted that most of the index cases of local transmission in the metropolis are those working in the sector ages 21 to 30 years old.

Individuals belonging to the A1 to A3 priority group, particularly medical frontliners, senior citizens, and adults with co-morbidities were the first to be covered by the vaccination program as mandated by the national government. (ERS)