Mayor tests negative in latest swab test

Top leaders of Western Visayas meet at the Iloilo City Hall Sunday to discuss the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines through tripartite agreements with manufacturers and the national government. Present in the meeting were Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, Governors Florencio Miraflores of Aklan, Rhodora Cadiao of Antique, Esteban Contreras of Capiz, Samuel Gumarin of Guimaras, Arthur Defensor Jr. of Iloilo, Eugenio Jose Lacson of Negros Occidental; former Guimaras congressman and governor Dr. JC Rahman Nava, and former 3rd district Representative Negros Occidental Alfredo Benitez. They pledged to band together to effectively fight the pandemic. (Photo by Arnold Almacen)

Mayor Jerry Treñas tested negative in the latest swab test that he had undergone after his official driver tested positive for COVID-19.

The mayor announced the good news last Saturday on his official Facebook page.

Salamat sa mahal nga Ginoo nag guwa na results namon tanan, negative kami tanan. Halong lang kita pirme kag indi guid kita mag kalipat mag sunod sang tanan nga health protocols bisan nakapoy na kita magmask, shield kag social distancing,” he said.

According to the mayor, he and his family were subjected to swab test after one of their official drivers contracted COVID-19.

The mayor has not yet divulged how his driver contracted the virus. Contact tracing has been initiated on close contacts of his driver.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases in the metro have been steadily increasing since last week.

Last January 15, the city recorded 8 Covid-19 cases; 6 cases on January 16 and 11 cases as of January 17.

Meanwhile, additional health care facilities were turned over to the Iloilo City government on Friday to capacitate the city’s response against Covid-19.

The health care facilities which were located in Barangay Sooc in Arevalo district included a quarantine facility and an off-site dormitory for medical workers.

The quarantine facility has 16 rooms complete with comfort rooms, water tank, sanitation area, septic tank, a nurse station with a male and female nurse room.

Meanwhile, the off-site dormitory is a container-type with 16 rooms and 32-bed capacity with individual rooms, comfort rooms, and air-conditioning units. The dormitory also has living, laundry, kitchen, and sanitation areas.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas accepted the facilities last Friday and ordered the transfer of 12 positive cases being quarantined at the Jaro National High School (JNHS).

The mayor expressed appreciation to the authorities particularly DPWH Secretary Mark Villar and the national Inter-Agency Task Force for the fully furbished facilities.(ERS)