Tubigon town is preparing for the influx of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) coming from Leyte via Ubay and those who are entering Bohol for Tubigon through Jagna seaport. This is the statement of Tubigon mayor William Richard Jao who also said the town is expecting at least 200 persons arriving in the next few days.
In a radio interview, Tubigon mayor William Jao revealed that his local government unit (LGU) expects the influx of LSIs from these two points of entry despite the fact that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is temporarlly halting the movement of LSIs coming from Cebu City.
Jao revealed this information in a radio interview on Monday, June 22, 2020 over “Newsmakers Ug Uban Pa” hosted by The Bohol Tribune managing editor Ardy Araneta Batoy and Gloria Ines Araneta.
Jao reiterated that when it comes to managing LSIs, the town government is making sure all health and testing protocols and precautionary measures are strictly followed.
The Tubigon mayor said he expects around 10 LSIs who will be coming from Leyte passing through Ubay town.
He assured the public that the LSIs are properly escorted by personnel from the LGU and have already been tested via the rapid antibody test (RAT) before entering the quarantine facility.
He further said all LSIs who will turn out to be positive will be placed in an isolation facility away from the general LSIs’ population in quarantine facilities.
The mayor said he has prepared two (2) isolation rooms in each quarantine facility.
He mentioned that the town has four (4) quarantine facilities including a beach resort located itself in the town.
Furthermore, the mayor said he also has four isolation rooms in a local hospital.
Jao also bared that he prepared seven (7) isolation rooms located in the Early Childcare Development Building.
IMPORTANCE OF TESTING
Jao stressed the importance of testing for the LSIs who are being billeted in the town’s quarantine facility.
He said the RAT is used to determine the infection status. Those who turn out to be positive are isolated. Jao said the LSIs are tested before they enter the quarantine faciiity and tested anew using RAT prior to their release and their return to their respective families.
Currently, the town has two (2) LSIs who tested positive for Covid using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, the mayor said.
He cited the case of one of the Covid positive LSI who is a 24-year-old lady who got tested via the swab test after having a fever.
The mayor said the lady Covid-positive LSI is now fine and is no longer exhibiting symptoms.
The mayor instructed the Municipal Health Officer for a repeat PCR test on those who tested positive.
STEAM INHALATION
Jao also said in the interview that those who test positive in the RAT or PCR tests are told to practice steam inhalation locally known as “tu-ob”.
He believes that steam inhalation with some salt, calamansi and ginger can help alleviate the mild manifestations of influenza-like symptoms.
LSI COUNT
The mayor said the town, since the it started accepting LSIs, have alreasy received 159 persons who were billeted in the various quarantine facilities in the town.
Out of the 159 LSIs, around 89 are still in quarantine facilities and they are yet to complete their 14-day quarantine period.
ARRIVING ARMY TROOPERS
Jao reported that there are also about 36 Army personnel who are expected to arrive in Tubigon on Monday evening.
The Army personnel will undergo training in the Army training camp located in barangay Macaas.
He said the soldiers, either commissioned and non-commissioned officers, would train in Tubigon so they can get promoted.