Mayor fears Bacolod-like transmission in Iloilo City

Mayor Jerry Treñas again ordered the temporary shutdown of Iloilo City borders to travelers from Bacolod City starting July 27, 2020 following the spike of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections in the latter city.

Treñas said he reached the decision after consultation with the Iloilo City Covid-19 Team and the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force (RIATF).

“Travel between Iloilo City and Bacolod City for all persons will be temporarily suspended starting tomorrow subject to the meeting of the RIATF tomorrow. Movement of goods and shipment of cargo shall remain unhampered,” he announced late Sunday evening.

According to the mayor, his decision was also influenced by a letter from doctors in Bacolod City requesting President Rodrigo Duterte to place the latter city under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) for the next 15 days to contain the surge in COVID-19 cases.

“Ang aton nga mga trip pakadto sa Bacolod ginpauntat naton, ang isa na ka rason ang mga  doctor mismo sa Bacolod nagpangayo kay presidente nga i-ECQ ang Bacolod for the next 15 days kay daw kadamo gid kuno sang kaso,” he said during the regular flag ceremony on Monday.

The mayor also mentioned COVID-19 infections detected in the old Bacolod City Hall wherein 12 persons tested positive for Covid-19.

Treñas said he fears that the same situation might happen in the City Hall. Hence, he ordered the rapid testing of all City Hall employees.

“Ma-rapid test kita sa aton diri sa City Hall. Isa ini naton ka paagi para maka-protect kita aton nga mga empleyado.  Ngaaa  ginubra ko ini kay nabatian ko sa Bacolod ang isa didto nila a building, ang daan nila nga City Hall, naglab-ot na 12 katawo ang nagposibito sa ila,” he lamented.

The mayor said the rapid testing of employees will start from the ground floor up to the top floor.

“Masugod kita halin sa dalom, masugod kita sa dalom bangod dira sa dalom, damo nga bisita gakadto, dayon amat-amat pasaka asta makalab-ot sa babaw,” he said.

On Monday, around 500 City Hall employees underwent rapid testing.

Health authorities have warned that rapid antibody testing is not a stand-alone test for COVID-19.

Real time-polymerase chain reaction test is still the gold standard in COVID-19 testing.  (ERS)