The number of confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the province and city of Iloilo increased to 24 with three new cases.

The province recorded two new cases of the infectious disease while the city logged one new case.

The additional COVID-19 patients in the province, a 26-year-old male and a 24-year-old male, are residents of Tigbauan town.

Mayor Suzette Alquisada, in a statement, said the two are seafarers with travel history to Japan and among the five overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Cebu who arrived in the town on April 9.

The latest patients are asymptomatic or have no symptoms of COVID-19. They have been isolated in a quarantine facility.

“Bangud sang pro-active nga ginhimu naton sa strikto nga pagquarantine sa ila, nalikawan nga maka-imaw sila sa ila mga pamilya kag sa komunidad,” Alquisada said.

“Wala man sila sang close contact sa iban nga tawo kay naka patigayon kita sang physical distancing kag naka full PPE ang aton mga frontliners halin sa pagsugat sa ila asta sa pagtatap sa ila nga yara sila sa quarantine,” she added.

According to Alquisada, the three other OFWs tested negative for COVID-19.

“Padayonon ta ang aton pagpangamuyo nga makarecover sila gilayon kag maproteheran man ang ila mga pamilya, ang aton kabarangay, ang aton mga kasimanwa kag ang tanan nga mga frontliners,” she said.

The mayor assured the public that they are doing their best to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the town.

“Ginapangayo ko gid ang inyo cooperasyon kag pag intiende sang aton tulad nga sitwasyon. Palihog magbinuligay kita tanan sa aton nga pag-away sa COVID-19,” Alquisada said.

“Likawan ang pag-discriminate sa aton nga OFWs, sa ila mga pamilya, sa aton frontliners, responders kag health workers, sa baylo, buligan naton sila kag ang ila mga pamilya,” she added.

There are now 18 cases of the disease in the whole province. The total number includes three recoveries and four deaths.

In Iloilo City, the new case involves a 77-year-old female from Jaro district.

The Department of Health (DOH-6) said the latest patient had a close contact with the coronavirus-positive patient from the same district, a 44-year-old male.

The number of COVID-19 cases in the city is now at 6, including one death and one recovery.IMT