13 Iloilo City barangays under lockdown due to COVID-19 surge

Thirteen barangays in Iloilo City were placed under a five-day total lockdown starting Tuesday evening, September 22, due to an increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Mayor Jerry Treñas stated that this is the only way to reduce the number of cases and that the lockdown may be extended depending on the situation.

The lockdown aims to give contact tracing teams sufficient time to identify and test individuals exposed to the virus.

Affected barangays include Concepcion and Ortiz in City Proper; MH Del Pilar, Simon Ledesma, and San Isidro in Jaro; Bo. Obrero, Mansaya, and Lapuz Sur in Lapuz; Bolilao in Mandurriao; Sooc in Arevalo; Calumpang in Molo; and Aguinaldo in La Paz.

During the lockdown, a liquor ban will be enforced, and a curfew will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., with only essential health personnel allowed to leave their homes.

Essential businesses like supermarkets and sari-sari stores will remain open within the locked-down barangays.

In addition to the barangay lockdowns, Iloilo City Hall will be closed from Wednesday to Friday for the mass swab testing of its employees.

The City Treasurer's Office (CTO) operations were suspended after 33 employees tested positive for COVID-19, while 75 tested negative.

The index case for the CTO outbreak was a 46-year-old female employee who showed symptoms but continued working for several days.

As of September 21, Iloilo City has a total of 1,847 cumulative COVID-19 cases, with 1,073 recoveries and 35 deaths.