Mayor Jerry Treñas said it is best to assume that the more infectious Delta variant of COVID-19 has already entered Iloilo City.
“I-assumer ta nalang nga may Delta variant diri sa aton,” Treñas said in an interview over radio station Bombo Radyo-Iloilo on Wednesday, July 21.
According to the Mayor, the city government has begun implementing stricter measures to ward off a potential surge of the Delta variant, which was first reported in India.
So far, no Delta variant case has been detected in the city.
Last week, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed two cases of the Delta variant in Pandan, Antique.
“Maskin ara palang sa Antique ang na-dect nga kaso sang Delta variant indi dapat magpakampanti. Dapat striktuhon ta ilabi na ang pagsulod sa syudad” said Treñas.
Due to “logistical problems,” the release of genome sequencing results in the country is delayed.
Genome sequencing, which analyzes a sample taken from a diagnosed patient and compares it with others, is used to check for the presence of COVID-19 variants.
Meanwhile, Treñas said the city government is looking for ways to help hospitals in the city expand their bed capacities and increase their oxygen supplies.
The city is currently under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the strictest form of lockdown. It also imposed border restrictions to limit movement into and out of the city.IMT
