VACCINATED. Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas receives his first dose of Sinovac at the West Visayas State University Medical Center in Iloilo City on Thursday (April 22, 2021). He said he volunteered to be vaccinated to encourage more people to get inoculated. (PNA photo courtesy of Jerry Treñas’ FB page)
ILOILO CITY – Residents here have been discouraged from going out of the metropolis for non-essential travels, otherwise they were enjoined to observe at least five days of quarantine upon returning to the city.
In an advisory dated April 20 but released on Thursday, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said it was recommended by the Iloilo City Covid Team after recent coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases were traced to persons with a history of travel to neighboring provinces and cities.
“For this purpose, travel, which is purely recreational, for leisure, or that which is not intended for work, business, or medical and humanitarian reason shall be deemed non-essential,” Treñas said.
The advisory added that any person with a travel history outside Iloilo City who will exhibit symptoms of Covid-19 upon entry must observe strict isolation.
His or her representative should also immediately contact local health authorities.
Iloilo City Covid Team spokesperson Jeck Conlu said the move is merely a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the virus in the city amid rising cases in the region.
“It is not mandatory. This is only an appeal. We just encourage them to undergo quarantine so their workplaces and families will be safe,” Conlu said.
He said it would be better if they inform their barangay officials of non-essential travels outside the city so they would be properly monitored.
It would also make contact tracing easier should they test positive for Covid-19.
Meanwhile, Treñas, who is a senior citizen apart from having comorbidities, was vaccinated with Sinovac at the West Visayas State University Medical Center (WVSUMC) on Thursday.
“As your mayor with comorbidities and a senior citizen, I volunteered myself in this initiative to encourage more people to take their part in saving the world. Today (April 22, 2021), I got my first dose of Sinovac at WVSU-MC,” he posted on his official Facebook page.
Conlu said the vaccination for remaining medical front-liners, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities has been going smoothly.
The vaccination for senior citizens and persons with comorbidities began on April 21 at the Central Philippine University, serving 800 recipients and 520 more as of noontime at the cinema of SM City Iloilo.
As of April 16, Conlu said nearly 11,000 senior citizens had registered to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. (PNA)
