Lubang Island will be on lockdown amid spike in COVID-19 cases —mayor

Lubang Island in Occidental Mindoro will be on lockdown starting Wednesday, October 27, amid the increase in COVID-19 cases in the area, according to Mayor Michael Orayani on Tuesday.

"Kami po ay bukas magla-lockdown [We'll be on lockdown] starting tomorrow. Dalawang linggo po ito [This will be for two weeks]," Orayani said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

"Para masiguro natin na hindi lalabas ang tao, hindi magkakahawaan [This is to ensure that people will not go out and spread the virus]" he said.

He also said the operation of the sole passenger sea vessel coming to and from the island municipality is suspended until November 4 after one crew member tested positive for COVID-19.

According to the monitoring by independent team OCTA Research on Monday, COVID-19 cases in Lubang Island have increased by 580%, with its reproduction number at 3.61.

A reproduction number of 1 or higher is an indication of the continuous transmission of the virus.

Orayani said the increase was due to the "aggressive community testing" conducted by the local government. He said following a request to testing czar Vince Dizon, the island was given 7,000 swab test kits.

Amid the mass testing, Orayani said from 40 positive cases on October 18, the number grew to 364 "and counting" as of October 26.

Orayani said most of the cases are asymptomatic.

"Puro asymptomatic, kung nagkaroon man ng symptoms ay very mild lang [They're mostly asymptomatic. If there were symptoms there were very mild]," he said.

Orayani said the island recorded three severe cases who are all unvaccinated against COVID-19.

Despite the increase in cases, Orayani also said quarantine and isolation facilities in the island are enough. He also said so far, 30% of the eligible population have already been vaccinated against COVID-19.

"Napakagandang indikasyon po iyan [That's a good indication]," he said.

At present, the island municipality has over 14,743 available vaccine doses, he added. —KBK, GMA News