Passi City, Iloilo COVID-19 cases rise to 220

COVID-19 cases in Passi City in the province of Iloilo rose to 220, a day after the metropolis was placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), Mayor Stephen Palmares said on Saturday.

"As of today, January 30, we have now at 220 cases from 166," Palmares announced at the Laging Handa public briefing.

Palmares said they have identified the source of transmission of the coronavirus in their city to be a vendor from their public market.

"Since October of 2020, we are conducting mass testing. Regular 'yung ating mass testing sa employees, sa barangay officials, sa barangay workers natin tsaka 'yung mga nagdu-duty doon sa quarantine facilities," he said.

"While we were conducting the mass testing sa employees, may nakita kaming nag-positive na employee na may isang stall doon sa Passi public market. Noong nag-contact tracing kami, may na-contact siya na pitong market vendors na nag-positive," Palmares continued.

The Passi City Public Market has since been put under lockdown this week, and 650 of their market vendors were swabbed.

He said 131 tested positive on the first day of the release of results, followed by 35 until the cases reached 220.

The Passi City Mayor said they have already tested about 800 individuals.

Palmares said they have conducted their contact tracing efforts and limited the movement of their residents, following ECQ guidelines.

They have also established checkpoints in their borders.

Passi City was placed under ECQ until Feb. 11. —KG, GMA News