Iloilo town records first COVID-19 case

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

A 55-year-old male from the town of Igbaras in Iloilo province is the latest case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Region 6, the Department of Health-Center for Health Development Western Visayas (DOH-CHD 6) reported on Monday.

In an online press briefing on Monday, Dr. Jessie Glenn Alonsabe, regional epidemiologist of DOH-CHD 6, said the patient is currently asymptomatic and under home quarantine.

“The new case was detected after the local government unit of Igbaras ordered the expanded testing in the said town. Sa subong, contact tracing on the new case has been rolled out to determine his exposure and travel history,” he said on Monday.

The patient is the first confirmed case in Igbaras.

Mayor Jaime Esmeralda said the patient was tested last May 27, 2020 alongside 50 individuals from the municipality of Igbaras.

The expanded testing was part of the initiative of Iloilo 1^st district Rep. Janette Garin.

Esmeralda said they will have to further investigate the source of the transmission as the patient has no travel history for almost two and a half months.

“Indi siya repatriated, waay siya travel history for two and a half months and asymptomatic siya. We have to investigate more para mabal-an namon kon diin niya nakuha ang virus. We have to consider if the patient has no travel history, may asymptomatic nga nagalibot sa banwa,” he said in a phone interview on Monday.

Meanwhile, Esmeralda appealed to residents of Igbaras to avoid panic and instead practice safety standards against COVID-19.

“There is no need to panic. Matrace na naton ang tanan nga contact sang patient since 14 days before nakuhaan siya swab. Sa subong panugyan ko lang sa mga residente ang pinakaimportante is to protect yourself by doing minimum health standards such as wearing of masks, social distancing, and maligo gid before magsulod sa balay,” he added.

So far, COVID-19 cases in the region totaled to 114 with 23 active cases, 81 recoveries and 10 deaths as of Monday.