‘Total lockdown yarn is fake information’

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas dismissed information that a total lockdown will be imposed on the city amid increasing cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In a press conference on Monday, Treñas clarified that he will not declare a four-day total lockdown.

“There is no total lockdown in Iloilo City. The information will only come from me, Jeck Conlu, the City COVID-19 Team spokesman; and Lucy Sinay, head of the City Public Information Office (PIO). If the information will not come from the three of us, then it’s fake news,” he stressed.

The mayor was reacting to information being spread on social media about the total lockdown that will be imposed on Iloilo City from Aug 28-31, 2020.

He appealed to the public to be vigilant and refrain from sharing false and unverified information that may cause panic.

“I urge everyone to stop spreading false information and unverified reports that could affect our city’s overall unified response against COVID-19,” he said.

Instead of a total lockdown, Treñas said surgical lockdowns and strict home quarantine will be imposed in barangays in the metro with clustering of COVID-19 cases.

As of Monday, Simon Ledesma and Jaro Small Market are under total lockdown.

Surgical lockdown will be extended in Mansaya, Bo. Obrero, Sinikway in Lapuz district; Kasing-Kasing and East Timawa in Molo; and Tacas in Jaro.

Additional barangays will also be placed on surgical lockdown particularly Veteran’s Villag, Ortiz, Sto. Rosario-Duran, and Legaspi in City Proper; and Calaparan and Taft North in Arevalo. (ERS)