The Iloilo City Government has reimposed the mandatory use of face masks inside City Hall amid the increasing cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the metropolis.
Starting Thursday, Dec. 21, all employees and those transacting at City Hall are required to wear face masks at all times.
The local government also urged the public to wear face masks in enclosed spaces to protect themselves against COVID-19.
“The cases of COVID is rising. The effects of the vaccine wane and we no longer have vaccines to deploy,” City Mayor Treñas said in a statement.
“For enclosed areas like the city hall, hospitals, offices, restaurants, banks, etc., the City Health Office (CHO) encourages the use of masks for the protection of everyone. For gatherings during the Christmas season proper, protection should be made,” he added.
CHO recorded 15 new COVID-19 cases as of Thursday, bringing the number of active infections in the city to 79 out of the 1,290 cases since Jan. 1 this year.
“Last January our cases were low, so there’s a note of peak cases from April to June. This December there was again a rising number of cases compared to last year 2022,” said Dr. Jan Reygine Ansino Hortinela, CHO medical officer.IMT
Photo by Iloilo City Government
