This Week in Boracay and Iloilo (September 27 to October 3, 2020)

Iloilo City is currently under modified enhanced community quarantine to contain the spread of the virus. The shift comes after Mayor Jerry Treñas announced that the city’s COVID team recommended the stricter status. The MECQ took effect on September 25 and shall be enforced for two weeks [1].

As the number of coronavirus cases increase in Iloilo City, the city government implements close monitoring and targeted testing in barangays. The efforts are being doubled up to contain the spread of the virus. In line with this effort, Mayor Jerry Treñas ordered that all frontliners in the city will be swabbed every two weeks [2].

The northern coastal municipality of Carles suffered from a revenue loss of about P70 million due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Mayor Siegfredo Betita, all the 35 beach resorts and tourism-related activities in the municipality were forced to close in accordance with the implemented safety measures. As of writing, Carles is under a relaxed community quarantine. Betita also added that his administration will help the resorts secure accreditation from the Department of Tourism and bank loans to improve their facilities so that they could reopen [3].

Boracay is set to allow the entry of tourists from areas under general community quarantine starting October 1 [4]. Visitors are required to present negative polymerase chain reaction test results, and they have to get tested 48 to 72 hours before their travel to the island.

Boracay is set to allow the entry of tourists from areas under general community quarantine starting October 1 [4]. Visitors are required to present negative polymerase chain reaction test results, and they have to get tested 48 to 72 hours before their travel to the island.

To expand COVID-19 testing efforts in the City of Iloilo, the government will establish cluster clinics in the city’s gymnasiums. Mayor Jerry Treñas ordered clinics to be set up in every district in Iloilo, according to Jeck Conlu. Free consultation will be offered to the residents in these clinics to prevent crowding in health centers, Conlu added [5].

Go to Yoorekka for more COVID-19 updates in Boracay and Iloilo.