Stricter quarantine? We’ll see, mayor says

Iloilo City has resorted to localized lockdowns, adjusted curfew hours, and imposition of stricter restrictions to curb the surge of local transmission of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the metro. 

Mayor Jerry Treñas issued on Thursday consecutive executive orders (EOs) mandating localized lockdowns on barangays and areas in the metro with clustering of Covid-19 cases.

The mayor imposed selective localized containment on houses at Brgy. Tanza, Baybay, Brgy. Rizal Pala-Pala Zone 1, Brgy. Rizal Pala-Pala Zone 2, and Brgy. North Baluarte for 72 hours starting on August 5, 2020 following the recorded clustering of cases in the said barangays.

Likewise, Brgy. San Juan, Molo was also placed under lockdown starting Thursday following the surge of local cases.

In a virtual press briefing, the mayor announced that 36 new additional Covid-19 cases have been detected at the Iloilo Fishing Port Complex (IFPC).

According to the mayor, the 36 new cases are in Barangays Pala-pala Zone 1 (1), Pala-pala Zone 2 (7), Tanza Baybay (2) in City Proper; Cuartero (4), Simon Ledesma (1) in Jaro; North Baluarte (1), Boulevard (1) in Molo; Tanza Bonifacio, City Proper (1); San Juan, Molo (10); Calaparan, Arevalo (1); Airport, Mandurriao (4); Kahirupan (1), Balabago in Jaro (1); and Rizal Estanzuela, City Proper (1).

Treñas said the city is trying to contain the transmission with the imposition of localized lockdowns, alcohol ban, and adjusted curfew hours from 8 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.

“First, we are trying to control the transmission with localized lockdowns. Second pagbalik ban on alcohol, curfew. I also request sa tanan nga religious denominations nga waay anay religious gatherings and we will see if that is sufficient,” he said.

When asked if the city will revert to a stricter quarantine status like the General Community Quarantine (GCQ), Treñas said it will depend on the recorded cases in the coming days.

“If we see cases continue to go up in the next few days, then we will wait and decide on what to do,” he said.

Iloilo City was placed under enhanced community quarantine from March 20 to April 14, 2020.

The ECQ led to the closure of business establishments in the metro with exemptions on those providing necessary services.

On May 16, Iloilo City transitioned to GCQ and allowed more businesses to operate at a limited capacity while enforcing minimum health standards.

It was only in June when Iloilo City first restarted its economy when it shifted to the more permissive Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ). (ERS)