Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said he would create a task force against the deadly coronavirus from China.

The task force will take the lead in the formulation and enforcement of measures to prevent the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from spreading in the city.

It will be headed by Dr. Roland Fortuna, medical officer of the City Health Office (CHO) and will be composed of members from the Department of Health (DOH-6), Department of Education (DepEd-6), hotels and restaurants, malls, and barangays.

Treñas said the task force will be created through an executive order.

“Sa subong sa syudad waay pa kita confirmed (cases). May ara kita PUI (persons under investigations) pero waay pa confirmation asta subong,” the mayor said.

“We will as much as possible want to make sure nga that situation will remain in Iloilo City,” Treñas emphasized.

Based on data from the DOH-6, there are two PUIs for possible nCoV infection in the city. One of them already tested negative for the new coronavirus.

“Ang importante nga transparent ang tanan nga gakatabo kag waay kita may ginatago para ang mga pumuluyo indi man magpanic,” Treñas said.

Earlier, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año ordered all local government executives to adopt stringent measures to intensify the information campaign on nCoV and report possible contamination in their respective areas.

“We need to be preventive now that there is a confirmed 2019 nCOV case in the country. Our governors, city and municipal mayors and DILG regional directors must ensure that the coronavirus will not thrive in their backyards,” he said.IMT