ILOILO CITY—At least 35,000 residents of a town in Iloilo province would be put on quarantine after they had been branded as persons under monitoring (PUM), or suspected carriers who have no symptoms but have travelled to infected places or had contact with COVID-19-infected individuals.
The Department of Health (DOH) said the residents of Guimbal town would be required to go on home quarantine.
DOH protocol required PUM to go on a 14-day quarantine.
The DOH Western Visayas office had found local transmission in the town, 27 kilometers from Iloilo City, after three cases of infection were not from another place but transmitted within the town.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said on Wednesday that Guimbal residents will not be allowed in his city.
“Theoretically, they can infect every one they meet,” he said at a press conference.
He did not discuss in detail how Guimbal residents could be prevented from entering Iloilo City but said border checkpoints will help ensure that those coming from Guimbal will be unable to enter the city.
Residents of three other southern Iloilo towns and Antique province have to pass Guimbal in going to Iloilo City.
Treñas said Guimbal residents working in Iloilo City can temporarily stay in the city so they can continue working.
“This is to ensure the health and security of city residents. Since DOH declared them PUM, we will not allow them here,” he said.
As of 5 p.m. of March 31, the DOH in Western Visayas reported 22 persons with COVID-19 including four who died in the region.
The most cases are in Iloilo province with 6 followed by Bacolod City with 5, Aklan with 4, 3 each in Capiz and Iloilo City and Negros province.
At least 169 persons had tested negative.