Local chief executives in Iloilo province are mandated to enforce strict localized lockdowns to contain further COVID-19 transmission.

Yesterday, Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. issued an executive order (EO) enforcing additional COVID-19 surge management measures amid the province’s enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

“Owing to the COVID-19 situation in the province of Iloilo and the confirmed entry of the Delta variant (of the virus causing COVID-19), there is a need for additional COVID-19 surge management measures,” said Defensor.

As of August 1, the province had 16,930 total confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which 2,425 were active, the governor noted.

For the two-week period from July 18 to 31, 2021, the daily average of COVID-19 cases was at 137, with an Average Daily Attack Rate (ADAR) of 6.65 and a Two-Week Growth Rate of negative 8.81 percent.

Movement of persons shall be limited to accessing essential goods and services, or work/conduct of business in allowed offices, establishments, industries and livelihood sectors, Defensor said.

Non-essential travel shall also be prohibited.

Moreover, provincial government-run hospitals are also told to prepare “for immediate elevation to 50 percent to 70 percent of total hospital bed capacity.”

Defensor said the COVID-19 dedicated bed capacity of the Iloilo Provincial Hospital and all district hospitals was at 403 beds or 49.57 percent of the total 813 bed capacity, with a Health Care Utilization Rate of 263 or 65.26 percent, as of Aug. 2. (Ime Sornito)/WDJ