ILOILO CITY—A double-digit spike in the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in recent days has led to the cancellation of activities related to a subdued version of the Dinagyang Festival, which honors the Santo Niño (Holy Child Jesus).
Mayor Jerry Treñas issued the ban on mass gatherings anew even after the Iloilo City government and the Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI) kicked off on Friday, January 15, what was supposed to be weeklong activities both online and actual live events.
Iloilo City Spokesperson Jeck Conlu told Manila Bulletin Sunday, January 17, that among those included in the cancellation were the dine-in for food festival and a bike fun ride.
The Iloilo City COVID-19 team recommended banning mass gatherings anew with a big increase in COVID-19 cases from January 12-14 in comparison to same dates in December 2020.
The increase in infections ranged from 366 to 700 percent in those three days along.
There were eight new and six new COVID-19 cases recorded January 15 and 16 respectively.
As of noontime of January 17, there were already 11 new COVID-19 cases.