Omicron forces tighter travel rules, liquor ban

By Joseph B.A. Marzan and Jennifer P. Rendon

The Iloilo City government on Wednesday announced tighter restrictions under Alert Level 2, as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases went up in the first five days of the New Year, as well as the detection of the city’s first Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant case.

Atty. Fydah Sabando from the City Legal Office announced in a virtual press conference on Wednesday that under Executive Order No. 001-A, series of 2022, public consumption of alcohol has been suspended effective Jan 5, 2022, and the sale of liquor products has also been regulated from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sabando said bars and clubs would have to be closed for the meantime until Jan 15 based on a recommendation by the COVID Team.

“As we all know, we cannot strictly enforce our minimum health protocols [in bars and clubs], especially with physical distancing. This would really aggregate persons to a closed area. We will have to amend accordingly insofar as the opening of clubs, KTVs, and restaurants and the consumption of liquor. It would have to be suspended for the meantime,” Sabando said.

Persons below 12 years old and above 65 years old will also not be allowed to enter malls, shopping centers, and other permitted establishments except for obtaining essential goods and services or for work in these establishments.

Cinemas and movie houses can still operate, but they are encouraged to allow only fully vaccinated persons, while minors below 12 years old must be prohibited from their premises.

Casinos, horse racing, lottery, betting shops, and other gaming establishments are still prohibited.

Mass gatherings and religious denominations, marriages, baptisms, and burials are still allowed at 50 percent, and wakes should not have more than 10 individuals at a time.

For contact sports, organizers must secure a permit from the Iloilo City Sports Coordination Team, subject to approval and recommendation by the City Health Office (CHO).

Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna, the city’s COVID-19 Focal Person, said that the city has already logged 38 new cases from Jan. 1 to 4, according to City Epidemiological Surveillance Unit (CESU) data.

This includes the 32 new cases that were logged in the past two days (Jan 3 and 4) alone.

These figures are higher than that of the first 4 days of December 2021 (8 cases) and even exceeded half of the total cases in the same month (62).

The Jan 1 to 4 cases also exceeded the numbers in January 2021 with 15.

As to vaccination, the city has 444,382 fully vaccinated individuals, and 14,869 partially vaccinated individuals.

TRAVEL COORDINATION PERMIT

A few months ago, fully vaccinated travelers to Iloilo City only need to present their vaccination cards after the city government lifted the requirement of submitting documents for S-PASS approval.

S-PaSS or Safe, Swift and Smart Passage is an online travel management system of the Department of Science and Technology used for domestic travel during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines when varying levels of travel restrictions was imposed in local government units.

All the travelers had to do was to submit their personal data through the S-PASS website, but will no longer be required to present any documentary requirements.

Their application will be automatically approved.

But starting Jan 7, Atty. Sabando said the automatic approval for inbound travelers to Iloilo City will also be suspended.

As such, those who will be traveling to Iloilo will have to secure a travel coordination permit (TCP). They must secure proof of residency, submit their vaccination card, and to undergo swab test upon arrival.

“They need to present an approved TCP for travel,” Sabando said.

The swab test is conducted every day (except Sundays) at the La Paz Gym free of cost.

OMICRON CASE

Dr. Marigold Calsas of the CHO confirmed that the city’s first Omicron case is a 46-year-old male seafarer from Arevalo district, who was asymptomatic but unvaccinated.

He was reported as a positive COVID-19 case last Dec. 27, and his specimen was sent to the Philippine Genome Center for testing shortly after, and the result was received by the CHO on Tuesday, Jan. 4.

The seafarer disembarked at a port in Kenya on Dec. 12, and from there he quarantined until his scheduled RT-PCR test on Dec. 14, which yielded a negative result.

He flew to Cebu via Qatar Airways on Dec. 15 and arrived on Dec. 16, after which he quarantined in Mactan Island and still tested negative via RT-PCR on Dec. 18.

He then flew to Iloilo on Dec. 24, signed up for testing at the Jubilee Hall, and was advised to get tested via RT-PCR at the La Paz Gym on Dec. 27. He went to the testing center on his personal motorcycle.

His third test was positive, and his specimen was sent to the Philippine Genome Center for sequencing.

Mayor Jerry Treñas said it was a good thing that they sent the seafarer’s sample for genome sequencing as they became suspicious when he tested positive after two negative RT-PCR test results.

On Wednesday, the COVID team held an emergency meeting to discuss what should be done following the first confirmed case of the Omicron variant in Iloilo City.

For one, Treñas said that the positive returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) shall have separate quarantine facilities, especially those who came from countries identified on the red list.

CLOSE CONTACTS

Prior to his COVID test, the seafarer went home to Arevalo where he lived alone and bought food from one source, with neighbors also sharing food with him.

He was also invited by neighbors for a Christmas party with them but he declined.

His only known contact was another man who invited him for a meal, which he declined. Their conversation lasted less than 10 minutes.

While he was unvaccinated, the seafarer was reportedly asymptomatic.

Calsas said that the 46-year-old male asserted that he spent his Christmas alone because he thought he was under quarantine.

She suggested that he may have possibly acquired the variant either in Kenya or Cebu.

“We were really trying to let him disclose what really happened last Christmas Day, but he stood by his words that he celebrated Christmas alone because he believed that he was under quarantine,” she said.

The patient is currently under quarantine at a facility at Brgy. Sooc in Arevalo district for 14 days, after which he would undergo repeat RT-PCR test.

She added that all ROFs who would fit the requirements and all confirmed COVID-19 cases who have had exposure in Boracay Island would have their specimens sent to the PGC.

‘DON’T PANIC’

Amid the threat of the Omicron variant, Treñas asked the public not to panic.

Instead, the mayor appealed to the people to always observe the minimum health standards and avoid face-to-face gatherings of people not belonging to the same household.

But he considered as significant the increase in COVID-19 cases – from single digits in December to 16 cases on the January 4 and 5 bulletins – in the past two days.

He also asked the public to get their vaccine booster shots when they are already eligible to take one.

“More vaccines are expected to arrive in the city so we can inoculate booster shots and protect more individuals from the dangers of Omicron,” he said.

While he claimed that it is quite unfortunate that they have been extending all means to protect the community but “some events may not be prevented. I sincerely hope for the healing of those hit by the virus especially those infected by the deadly Omicron variant,” he said.

Treñas said they must strictly enforce the protocols because they do not want to have another surge to happen in the city and prevent another wave of lockdowns.

“We plea for the cooperation of everyone for the safety of all,” he said.

Treñas added that the City Hall will operate at 80% capacity.