NO HOLIDAY LOCKDOWN

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

 

Talks of lockdowns in some parts of the country to curb the spread of COVID-19 during the Yuletide holidays have been swirling in the mainstream and social media.

Iloilo City was not spared after Mayor Jerry Treñas said via Facebook that he has been receiving inquiries if the local government will impose a lockdown this week.

Treñas quickly shot down the lockdown yarn saying the city government will only impose stricter protocols on passengers returning from Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

“I have been receiving inquiries whether Iloilo City will go on lockdown starting December 20 or anytime during this month. Please be informed that the city has no plans of going on lockdown at any time during the holidays. We will only require passengers coming in from Manila to undergo swab tests for the safety of our constituents,” he said via Facebook.

This weekend, some media reports came out saying that Metro Manila will revert to the very strict Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) this week.

Both Metro Manila and Iloilo City are under General Community Quarantine (GCQ), which is a step away from the lifting of quarantine protocols. The most permissive level is the Modified GCQ.

Cabinet Sec. Karlo Alexei Nograles on Sunday called as fake information a memorandum stating that Metro Manila will revert to MECQ.

The memorandum contained the logo of the PNP’s National Capital Regional Police Office and was circulated on messaging platforms.

Nograles, who is a member of the interagency task force on the management of emerging infectious diseases, said the national government will decide later this month on the quarantine classifications of the country for January 2021.

Meanwhile, Iloilo City recorded seven new COVID-19 cases on Dec 19, which is 15.38% lower compared to Nov 19.

As of Sunday afternoon, the city has logged two new cases in LaPaz and Molo districts.

The city’s average daily new cases is 11 as of Dec 18, 2020. Tabuc Suba in Jaro has the most number of new cases so far with 18.

Treñas said while new cases remain steady, he is contented that there was no major outbreak so far this month.

“We may not have significant decrease in the number of cases, but we are blessed that there is also no surge in numbers. Let us hope that entering 2021, Iloilo City will be COVID free,” he added.