ILOILO Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr. signed on Wednesday afternoon, February 26, Executive Order No. 28 to strengthen quarantine procedures and other disease prevention and control measures to protect the Province of Iloilo from Covid-19.

Defensor said the coronavirus disease known as Covid-19 especially in South Korea increased from 712 infected persons in a span of five days, from February 19 to 24, and continuing to rise at the same rate.

He said the situation in South Korea places it in the same category as China (inclusive Hong Kong and Macau), and therefore demands the similar treatment of persons traveling there from under the “Decision tool for coronavirus 2019 assessment dated 17 February 2020 (Covid-19 Decision Tool).”

The governor added that with the frequent travelers to and from South Korea and Philippines, in particular the Province of Iloilo, there is a need for additional quarantine procedures.

In Iloilo City, Mayor Jerry Treñas has already ordered the suspension of all major gatherings in the city and urged travelers from South Korea to voluntarily submit themselves to self-quarantine amid the Covid-19 threat. (SunStar Philippines)