All people residing in the town of Guimbal, Iloilo are now considered persons under monitoring (PUMs) for possible coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection.
The decision to classify the residents as PUMs was made by the Department of Health (DOH-6) after it confirmed local transmission of the disease in the town.
“Ang mga taga Guimbal, bangud na-established ta na nga may local transmission [in the town], PUMs na sila,” Dr. Renelyn Reyes of the DOH-6 said in a meeting on Tuesday, March 31.
The DOH-6 reported on Monday, March 30, two new patients infected with COVID-19 in Western Visayas and one of them is from the town of Guimbal.
The latest COVID-19 patient (51-year-old female) in Guimbal had a history of exposure to the town’s first coronavirus-positive patient (65-year-old male).
Reyes said all the residents should undergo strict home quarantine for not less than 14 days and practice physical distancing, and proper hygiene.
“Kon may sintomas sya later on sang respiratory illness pwede na naton mahambal nga PUI (patient under investigation) na sya,” Reyes said.
The classification of Guimbal’s residents as PUMs was questioned by Vice Mayor Jennifer Garin Colada.
Colada said she already asked explanation from the health department in the region.”The DOH-6 did not coordinate with us.”IMT
