QUARANTINE MEASURES. Photo shows the empty streets of San Dionisio, Iloilo as it implements a total lockdown, a measure against the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). San Dionisio mayor Larry Villanueva said on Wednesday (May 6, 2020) that members of the town’s legislative body were put on quarantine after a councilor came in contact with a symptomatic San Dionisio local. (Photo courtesy of San Dionisio municipal police)
ILOILO CITY – The vice mayor and members of the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of San Dionisio town, Iloilo were requested to undergo quarantine after a councilor came in contact with a coronavirus disease symptomatic local.
Mayor Larry Villanueva confirmed on Wednesday that SB member Jeff Albania picked up on Sunday, a 33-year-old San Dionisio local, who later on developed fever.
Villanueva said the local has asked to go home to San Dionisio after he was displaced from work due to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
“Our councilor, with his pure intent, fetched our local in Iloilo City on Sunday night. He forgot that we are implementing strict protocols here in northern Iloilo to maintain our Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019)-free status. He went to Iloilo City which is a high-risk area for the virus,” he said.
He said the San Dionisio local has started manifesting fever on Monday and was put on quarantine.
Albania and a village front-liner who accompanied him to Iloilo City were unable to immediately put themselves on quarantine.
“Albania attended the regular session of the Sangguniang Bayan and the village front-liner has met with our Municipal Social Welfare and Development officer. To be safe, I requested all the SB members, our vice mayor, and our MSWDO to observe quarantine,” the mayor said.
Villanueva said the San Dionisio local and the two elected officials were put in the municipal quarantine facility at Nicomedes R. Tubar National High School on Monday night.
The swab sample was already collected from the San Dionisio local on Wednesday, he said.
“But his fever has already subsided and we provide him with healthy food to boost his immune system,” the mayor said.
The vice mayor, SB members, and the MSWDO, meanwhile, were on home quarantine.
Villanueva assured that the response of the town against Covid-19 will not be hampered as essential ordinances and efforts were already done by the concerned government officials before their quarantine.
The mayor has also requested the SB members to probe the extent of the ECQ violation of Albania.
“I will wait for their decision for us to implement necessary discipline,” he said. (PNA)
