INFECTION RATE IN CITY SLOWS DOWN

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

 

The number of new cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Iloilo City appears to have slowed in the last week of October 2020, according to the City COVID-19 team.

The data collected by the City Health Office indicated that the city recorded an average of 46 new cases daily from Oct 1 to Nov 1, 2020.

The highest single-day spike was on Oct 1 and 2 with 86 cases each while the lowest were recorded on Oct 26 and 31 with 16 cases each.

But the good news culled from the data is that the city appears to have gradually controlled new daily infections to below 30 cases between Oct 26 and Nov 1, or 22 cases a day.

Jeck Conlu, city COVID-19 team spokesperson, attributed the slowdown in new infections to some policies imposed by the local government.

Conlu cited the restrictions to funeral wakes and burials where only immediate relatives are allowed to visit at limited times and in strict observance of health protocols such as physical distancing and wearing of masks and face shield. Wakes are only allowed for three days.

Another restriction is the imposition of liquor ban, particularly drinking in public places.

“Our strict enforcement of protocols on persons who were swabbed for COVID-19 testing and other rules such as distancing and wearing of face masks and shields can also be factors. We ordered barangay officials, health workers, and police officials to strictly monitor the movements of persons who were tested until they are cleared because some of them went out of their homes while awaiting their results,” Conlu said.

The city also ordered restaurants and similar establishments to install plastic barriers in their dining areas as a precautionary measure against the spread of the virus.

The downtrend in new cases in the city is validated by the Department of Health in Region 6 which reported that Iloilo City logged 28 new cases on Nov 2.

The DOH data also indicated that the city has 4,049 total cases including 3,850 local cases, 534 active cases, 3,427 recoveries, and 88 deaths.

The Iloilo City government also reminded barangays with the most number of COVID-19 cases to closely monitor and strictly enforce health safety standards and protocols.

Based on data from the Iloilo City COVID-19 team, Bo. Obrero in Lapuz district logged the highest number of cases for the month of October with 67.

Calumpang, Molo followed with 43 cases while Tabuc Suba, Jaro has 42 cases.

The other barangays with high number of COVID-cases are:

North San Jose, Molo – 41 cases

San Juan, Molo – 34 cases

Quintin Salas, Jaro – 31 cases

Balabago, Jaro – 29 cases

North Fundidor, Molo – 29 cases

San Isidro, Jaro – 29 cases

Cubay, Jaro – 27 cases

Baldoza, Lapaz – 24 cases

Bolilao, Mandurriao – 23 cases

Concepcion, City Proper – 23 cases

 

COVID-FREE BARANGAYS

Meanwhile, 21 barangays remained COVID-free from Oct 1 to Nov 1:

Arroyo, City Proper

Bantud, LaPaz

Calubihan, Jaro

El 98, Jaro

Flores, City Proper

Gloria, City Proper

Hinactacan, LaPaz,

Hipodromo, City Proper

Kahirupan, City Proper

Laguda, LaPaz

Legaspi-Dela Rama, City Proper

Liberation, City Proper

Malipayon-Delgado, City Proper

NHA-2, Mandurriao

Osmeña, City Proper

Rizal Estanzuela, City Proper

Rizal, Lapuz Sur

Roxas Village, City Proper

San Felix, City Proper

San Jose, City Proper

San Jose, Jaro.

 

NEW CASES

As of 12 pm of Nov 2, 2020, the city reported 10 new cases (partial) on top of the 29 new cases reported a day before.

The new cases on Nov 1 included five contact tracers hired by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and deployed to Iloilo City.

Conlu said the five new cases were part of the 227 DILG-hired contact tracers who underwent training and testing by the City COVID team.

“It is part of our protocols to test them before they are deployed around the city. These five contact tracers can still work from home if they are asymptomatic,” Conlu added.