BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
Bacolod Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia has ordered localized containment measures and surgical lockdown of some residential areas in barangays Sum-ag and Banago after two of their residents tested positive for the more contagious Delta variant of the Covid-19.
Leonardia said the infections were confirmed by the Philippine Genome Center although both residents did not exhibit symptoms.
Aside from containment measures and lockdowns, extensive contact-tracing efforts are also now in place, he said.
The mayor added that re-swabbing or repeat swabbing, under the National Inter-Agency Task Force and the Department of Health policy, are also being done.
Based on DOH record, the first case of the Delta variant positive was a 71-year-old male resident of Barangay Banago, who was swabbed on July 15.
Five members of his household also turned out positive with mild symptoms, based on their RT-PCR results, but none was admitted to a hospital.
The second Delta case is a 32-year-old pregnant woman from Barangay Sum-ag, who was swabbed on July 19, as a requirement for pregnant women at 36 weeks of pregnancy onwards.
She has no travel history while her husband, who works at a local hospital and was already fully vaccinated with Sinovac jab, was also asymptomatic.
Four of their housemates were not showing symptoms of the disease.
Leonardia said, “It is unfortunate that this development came about at a time when coronavirus infections in the city were on a steady decline in the past two weeks and our vaccination rollout is going full swing.”
“Indeed, the Covid-19 spread remains unpredictable as also experienced anywhere in the world, which means the public should not let its guard down,” the mayor stressed.
Leonardia reminded the public to continue observing minimum health protocols by wearing face masks and face shields when necessary, avoiding crowded places and attending big meetings and social gatherings, going out only when necessary, and always observing physical distancing.
Those who were tested positive of the Delta variant have completed their 14-day quarantine, but 21 individuals, who are considered close contacts were swabbed and isolated, executive director Em Ang of the Emergency Operations Center, said.
Contact tracing is also ongoing for the third generation contacts.
The M.G. Medalla Integrated School in Brgy. Pahanocoy has been designated as the isolation center for Delta positive Covid patients.*
