The Department of Health (DOH) has placed Iloilo City and Iloilo province under Alert Level 4 due to their rising coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections and increasing health care utilization rates (HCURs).
The province and city of Iloilo are among the 37 areas in the country that are under the highest alert status.
According to DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, areas under Alert Level 4 are those with moderate to critical risk classification and more than 70 percent healthcare utilization regardless of the presence of the Delta variant.
“These alert levels will give us triggers kung ano ‘yung kailangan na nating gawin at saka kung ano ‘yung mga flagged areas natin,” she said.
Areas under Alert Level 4 are required to implement granular lockdowns, intensify contact tracing efforts and COVID-19 testing, among others, to address the rise in cases and HCURs.
HCUR refers to the occupancy of intensive care unit, isolation and ward beds.
As of August 7, the province of Iloilo, which is under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), recorded 2,813 active cases of COVID-19, the highest in the whole Western Visayas region.
Iloilo City, which is under ECQ, came in third with 1,294 infections.
The province and city both recorded cases of the more transmissible Delta variant, which was first detected in India.
Mayor Jerry Treñas said he was alarmed when he learned that Iloilo City and Iloilo province are both placed by DOH under Alert Level 4.
“As per DOH, this means there are community transmissions of more contagious Delta variant. We need to be ready.”
City COVID-19 Focal Person Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna said they have put in place strict prevention measures including the strengthened active case findings and community testing through nasal and throat swabs for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).IMT
