By Tara Yap
ILOILO CITY – Mayor Jerry Treñas is now considering to putting the city of Iloilo under lockdown in a bid to stop transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
While there are still no confirmed cases of COVID-19, the numbers of persons under investigation (PUIs) and persons under monitoring (PUMs) have jumped to 27 and 980, respectively, as of March 18.
“With the increasing number of PUIs we have in the city,” said Treñas in a Wednesday afternoon statement.
“This is not final yet since we need to have this approved. This is for the best of everyone,” Treñas clarified.
If indeed there will be a lockdown, Treñas said that businesses with essential services will remain open such as supermarkets or pharmacies.
“We will only be opening essential establishments so that Ilonggos can still buy their daily needs,” Treñas assured.
The mayor’s pronouncement Wednesday was different from his previous stand, maintaining that no lockdown was needed and that Iloilo City, which is the regional capital of Western Visayas, will remain open.