Mass gathering, eating inside offices blamed for surge in Covid-19 cases

The new surge in Covid-19 cases recorded in Iloilo City in the month of January can be traced to local transmission in mass gatherings and eating inside offices.

This was the observation of the Iloilo City Covid-19 as officials noted the significant increase of Covid-19 cases in January compared to December last year.

According to Jeck Conlu, spokesperson of the Iloilo City Covid-19 Team, majority of the cases that were logged in Iloilo City in the month of January were attributed to positive cases recorded at regional government agencies.

The positive cases were from the Department of Health Western Visayas (DOH-6), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 6 and the most recent which involved personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard – Western Visayas (PCG 6).

“Nagtaas gid aton nga cases and ining pagtaas caused by mass gatherings on our regional government agencies particularly DOH, DILG, and PCG,” he said in a press conference on Monday, February 1, 2021 at the Iloilo City Hall.

While Covid-19 transmission has been controlled in the two offices, authorities are currently monitoring the PCG 6 after it recorded 10 Covid-19 positive.

“We have controlled the transmission sa aton mga kabarangayan and karon sa mga government agencies naman diri sa syudad. Nacontrol na naton ang sa DOH and DILG because wala na sang may narekord nga kaso,” Conlu furthered.

Dr.  Roland Jay Fortuna, Chairperson of the Iloilo City Covid-19, said the transmissions in government agencies were caused by mass gatherings and the practice of eating inside offices where employees lower their guards against the virus.

“So ang nagakatabo, nagalatnanay sila kon may mga events and gatherings sa opisina especially magkan-anay. After holding the meeting, may kan-anay and syempre ginakakas nila ang ila nga face masks kag upod sila mag-istoryahanay, dira madasig ang transmission sang Covid-19 especially if enclosed ang space,” he explained.

In the case of PCG, Conlu said that there was a regional event and gathering of PCG personnel which was followed by an eating out.

Later, an index was identified after the person manifested signs and symptoms.

Initial contact tracing resulted to nine additional positive cases, according to Conlu.

Following the incident, almost 100 personnel from PCG will be subjected to swab test.

The surge of Covid-19 cases in Iloilo City which accounted an 18% increase in January forced authorities to impose additional measures to prevent the transmission.

On Monday, Mayor Jerry Treñas issued Executive Order (EO) No. 12 extending the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) in Iloilo City from February 1 to February 28, 2021.

The EO also limited the conduct of gatherings to public and private gatherings “insofar as the attendees thereto are members of the same family living in the same household” for a period of one week from February 1 to February 8. (ERS)