By Joseph B.A. Marzan
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Region 6 are now at 2,130 after 84 new cases were reported on August 10, 2020.
The latest batch includes 69 local cases, 12 Locally Stranded Individuals (LSI) and three Returned Overseas Filipinos (ROF).
When broken down according to residence, Iloilo City posted 30 new cases, Iloilo province has 23, Negros Occidental with 21, Bacolod City with six, Capiz province with 2, and Aklan and Guimaras provinces with one each.
One new COVID-19 death was recorded on August 10, a 48-year-old male from Bacolod City (WV Patient No. 2017), a local case which was recorded on August 9.
Forty-two new recoveries were also recorded.
DOH data indicated that as of Aug 10, the region has 1,063 active COVID-19 cases, 1,035 total recoveries, and 32 deaths.
Despite sliding to the more permissive modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), several areas in the region have re-imposed restrictions that were present during the stricter enhanced CQ in March and April.
Iloilo City has imposed again a two-week liquor ban and enforced selective lockdowns in barangays with rising COVID cases.
Restaurants and computer cafes were also limited to 50 percent capacity to discourage mass gatherings. Catholic churches also suspended masses in response to the City Hall’s call.
Also, all non-essential visits to the City Hall were suspended.
Other restrictions were on the movements of senior citizens and minors up to Aug 17, work from home arrangements for 55 years old and above up until Aug 17, use of face shields for all persons who transact business at City Hall, use of face shields for all frontliners of city hall, and suspension of the flag ceremony in the meantime.
The restrictions were re-imposed after hundreds of cases were detected in several call centers and the Iloilo Fishing Port Complex in Iloilo City.
The cities of Bacolod and Iloilo and Negros Occidental province temporarily stopped accepting repatriates from other areas for two weeks starting Aug 8, 2020.
Guimaras also raised its COVID-19 response level which imposes stricter rules on persons going to and from the island-province.
