ILOILO City – There is fear of a possible surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections now that the holidays are over. “Halong gid anay.” Be cautious, Mayor Jerry Treñas urged Ilonggos.
On New Year’s Day, the Department of Health (DOH) recorded 3,617 new COVID-19 cases in the country. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the sharp increase could be due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant of COVID-19.
“While we still do not have confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in the city we need to be proactive about it,” said Treñas.
Yesterday afternoon, he announced the cancellation of this Monday morning’s face-to-face flag-raising ceremony in front of city hall.
The mayor’s trepidation was palpable – a stark contrast to the more hopeful tone of his New Year message issued just days before year 2021 ended.
“The year 2021 has given everyone a new brand of hope that amidst the global pandemic we can achieve great things if we are united and shared the same vision,” part of his message read.
Now, Treñas is invoking that unity to parry Omicron infections.
“I am asking everyone to stop gatherings with persons not from the same household,” said Treñas.
According to DOH, the country has so far recorded 11 imported cases and three local cases of Omicron.
Treñas also urged Ilonggos who have completed their COVID-19 vaccination to get booster shots three months after their second dose.
“We need to have our booster shots for additional protection against the Omicron variant,” he said.
The World Health Organization has sounded a note of caution over initial research that the Omicron variant is less likely to cause severe disease than previous coronavirus strains, saying that we still don’t have enough data on how this version of the virus affects those who are most vulnerable.
Data from DOH Region 6 as of Jan. 2 showed Western Visayas having just nine new COVID-19 cases (none of them Omicron) and total active cases at 1,582.
In his New Year message, Treñas noted that through the collaborative efforts of every Ilonggo, a lot of things were accomplished in the city despite the pandemic. He hoped to carry over this momentum to 2022.
The local economy was thriving, he pointed out, and city government exceeded its vaccination target, and the city government was recognized for its handling of the pandemic situation.
“All these are things that we can truly be proud of but we should not rest on our laurels, must continue to strive for excellence and we look forward to many more successful endeavors in the year 2022,” Treñas added.
“As we welcome the year 2022, may your home be filled with love and abundance. On behalf of the Iloilo City Government, I wish everyone a joyful New Year celebration and a Prosperous Year ahead. Padayon kita sa gihapon sa pag uswag sa year 2022,” Treñas said./PN