ILOILO CITY – The municipal government of Lambunao in Iloilo on Wednesday ordered the immediate closure of its government center and the public market for disinfection and contract tracing after it recorded 21 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in both places.
Mayor Reynor Gonzales called for an emergency meeting with the local COVID Task Force, concerned government offices, and barangay captains in the morning to enforce the closure, said Lambunao Vice-Mayor Arvin Losaria in a phone interview.
The closure of the town's lone public market is in effect up to Aug. 25, depending on the results of the tracing and swab tests conducted among the vendors.
On Tuesday, the local government subjected to swab test 44 vendors and stall representatives who exhibited signs and symptoms, and 12 were found to be infected.
The government center will stop operations until Aug. 16 except for frontline services such as the rural health unit (RHU) and the municipal disaster risk reduction and management office (MDRRMO).
One of the infected, out of the six who were traced to have contracted COVID-19 at the center, is being readied for admission after manifesting symptoms.
Of the 21 total infections, one is reportedly a locally stranded individual (LSI), and two local transmissions.
“As per the situational update from our rural health officer, it seemed that cases are already localized and they could no longer trace the source. However, almost all of those who were affected have manifested symptoms,” he said.
Meantime, it was agreed during their emergency meeting that the municipal government and the barangays with affected residents will share the responsibility of providing the patients with the needed supplies as they are now under quarantine.
He added that they also discussed their option for a burial site should there be casualties while cadaver bags have also been procured.
“The Lambunao eco-park in the area of Barangays Magbato and Sibacungan will serve as our mass grave in case there are casualties. We have to prepare for the worst-case scenario but God forbid we will not reach that point,” he said.
Including the new cases, Lambunao has 103 active cases, 272 recoveries, and 12 deaths.