ILOILO CITY – Rising COVID-19 cases has prompted the city government to prohibit non-essential mass gatherings for one week beginning 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Mayor Jerry Trenas issued an executive order last May 12 barring gatherings that are “purely recreational, for leisure, or that which is not intended for medical or humanitarian” purposes.
On that day, this city recorded 51 new COVID-19 cases, including two new deaths.
Health officials also found a 141.41 percent spike in COVID-19 cases for the first 11 days of May or a total of 309 cases, compared to the 128 from April 1 to 11.
The Iloilo City Health Office noted that there was a 133.33 percent increase in daily average of new COVID-19 cases or 28 per day compared to that for April 1 to 11 at 12 new cases.
The executive order also limited the number of people that can be allowed in a venue such as places of worship, offices, and restaurants at 30 percent.
It banned the operation of entertainment places, including bars, clubs, concert halls, and movie theaters; “peryas” (fairs), playgrounds, kiddie rides, and cockfighting.