Spike in COVID-19 cases in Iloilo town traced to hacking incident

A hacking incident that transpired in a barangay in San Joaquin, Iloilo led to the sudden uptick in COVID-19 cases in the town which is now among the highest in the province in terms of active cases.

As of January 26, 2021, San Joaquin has 51 active cases, based on the data from Iloilo Provincial Health Office (PHO).

On Tuesday, the town recorded 18 additional COVID-19 cases involving 18 local cases and three authorized persons outside residence (APORs).

The sudden rise in cases in San Joaquin surprised local authorities as the town only recorded one active case for the whole month of December 2020.

Municipal administrator Leo Satana explained that the surge in cases originated from a hacking incident last January 15 at Brgy. Cata-an.

The victim of the incident was identified as the index case after he tested positive for COVID-19 in a hospital.

Close contacts of the patient also tested positive, forcing local authorities to place the barangay under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) until February 4.

“After the hacking incident, we surprisingly discovered that the victim turned out positive for Covid-19 and when we tested the close contacts didto nagulpi taas sa 13 cases in one day because they turned out positive. Ang iya bata nga nadetain sa ward didto natukiban nga positive siya and so nainfect niya man ang mga upod niya nga inmates,” Satana said in an interview.

Over 404 close contacts of the index case have contracted the virus, according to Satana.

All of them are currently asymptomatic and 31 are currently under quarantine in the town’s temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMFs).

Following the incident, Satana appealed to residents of San Joaquin to practice the minimum health standards to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“This is already a learning lesson to all of us that this COVID-19 is indeed real. Sa mga pumuluyo, ginpahibalo namon nga kami sa LGU wala naga-untat sa pagcontain sang paglapta sang COVID-19. Bisan anuhon ka LGU kon ang mga tawo indi magpati sa minimum public health standards so sa aton mga kasimanwa wear face masks, face shield, and maintain social distancing,” he said. (ERS)