The local government here is urging families to observe minimum health protocols even in their homes as cases have shown that local transmission is already happening even in their abode.
Iloilo City Covid Team spokesperson Jeck Conlu said transmission no longer happens just outside their houses. Chances are the other family members of the index confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients can also be infected.
He cited one instance when all the seven family members of an index coronavirus patient also tested positive for Covid-19.
“We can say that even at home, we need to practice physical distancing and wear masks so that whenever a member is positive, the whole family will not be affected. So we have to practice minimum health protocol,” he said in dialect in a press conference on Monday.
Conlu said cases in barangays have shot up and transmission is faster because protocols inside houses are more relaxed.
Meanwhile, amid the increasing cases, Covid-19 focal person Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna said the city health office is advising the public to always seek consultation whenever they are not feeling well as he emphasized the importance of early detection.
He said that during a meeting with Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, they have proposed a new protocol on the implementation of lockdown.
“Before we are waiting for three cases or more but we proposed and the mayor agreed that once there is a positive case in the barangay, the household will be identified and it will be automatically on lockdown (and) stay home quarantined,” Fortuna said.
The lockdown will be specific and targeted and strict home quarantine will be imposed once there is a positive case in a barangay.
He added they are just waiting for the Executive Order signed by the mayor.
As of Monday, he said 44 barangays are on lockdown and 12 are on watchlist. The lockdown in six barangays has been lifted.
During the meeting, six barangays were recommended for lockdown to include Cubay, Jaro with 13 cases; San Antonio, Molo with four cases; and three cases each from Airport and Guzman Jesena, Mandurriao; and Fajardo and San Roque, Jaro.
Eight barangays are on the watchlist for having two cases each. They are Calahunan and Q. Abeto, Mandurriao; Divinagracia, La Paz; Don Esteban, Lapuz; Quintin Salas, Jaro; Rizal Palapala 1, City Proper and Sta. Cruz and Mohon in Arevalo.
Five barangays have recorded zero cases after they were placed on lockdown for three days. They included Lopez Jaena Sur, La Paz; Bakhaw, Mandurriao; Ma. Cristina, Jaro and San Jose and Calaparan in Arevalo.
Iloilo City recorded 34 partial confirmed cases as of Monday composed of 19 local transmission, seven city hall employees, and seven new cases and one death.
Meanwhile, the city government is also planning to test drivers and vendors to be done per district later this week and next week, said Iloilo City Covid Extraction Team head Chiqui Blancaflor. (PNA)
