THE Laoag International Airport implements strict monitoring on the entry of visitors on Saturday as a member of the Philippine Air Force assigned here tested positive of Covid-19 infection. The LIA is preparing for the resumption of commercial flights on July 20. (Photo courtesy of Denis Alipio)
By Leilanie G. Adriano (Staff Reporter)
LAOAG CITY—Ilocos Norte recorded four new confirmed cases of COVID-19,
all of whom had a travel history and exposure to the disease in Metro Manila.
Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc confirmed this on
Sunday evening, July 19, 2020, in a public statement posted in the official social
media page of the provincial government as he noted all the new cases, tagged
as IN-C6, IN-C7, IN-C8 and IN-C9 are asymptomatic but tested positive while
they are in quarantine facilities.
According to Mr. Manotoc, IN-C6 is a 44-year old utility worker
from Brgy. Saud, Pagudpud town and who was assigned at a quarantine facility.
IN-C7 is a 20-year old pregnant woman from Brgy. 16 in Vintar,
who arrived from Manila and was quarantined in the said town.
For IN-C8, it was learned that she is a 21-year old female nurse
from Brgy. San Vicente, Laoag City with history of exposure to COVID-19 in
Metro Manila.
While IN-C9 is a 24-year old female resident of Pagudpud who
likewise travelled from Metro Manila.
“Thankfully, all of these cases were already in medical or
quarantine facilities when they were found to be COVID-19 positive,” said Mr. Manotoc
as he assured the public that the provincial government, in partnership with
the concerned local government units, medical facilities and the Department of
Health continues to exert all preventive measures and health protocols.
In a radio interview with Pagudpud Mayor Rafael Benemerito II on July
20, 2020, he said that at least three sitios of Brgy. Saud: Maligaya, Kamayeng
and Jupiter are under temporary lockdown while those who have been identified
with close contacts to IN-C6 and IN-C9 in Pagudpud town were already on
quarantine.
Like Pagudpud town, those who have closed contacts with IN-C7 in
Vintar town and IN-C8 in Laoag are now quarantined while waiting for their swab
testing result the soonest.
The quarantine facilities where the new cases stayed are also
locked down as of the press time.
To further expand the testing capacity of the province, the provincial
health task force is also working on the establishment of strategic swab
stations in various parts of the province to speed up the process of
identifying and isolating those with coronavirus infection even when they are
not experiencing any symptoms.
Laoag City confirms 1st COVID-19 positive case
Earlier, Laoag City
recorded its first COVID-19 positive case, though city officials said the
patient is not a local resident.
In a media interview on July 18, 2020, Laoag Mayor Michael M.
Keon confirmed that a male Philippine Air Force personnel based at the Laoag
International Airport (LIA) tested positive for COVID-19 infection.
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| Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon checks on the COVID-19 patient at the Laoag International Airport. (Alwin Formantes) |
“I was informed last night by Dr. [Joseph] Adaya that there is now one COVID patient in Laoag. This person is an Air Force personnel who is assigned in the province. He is not an Ilokano and not from here. He is from Manila,” explained Keon as he reported the patient is currently asymptomatic and he is currently isolated inside their barracks at the LIA compound.
It was learned the patient travelled from Metro Manila and
arrived in Laoag on June 26, 2020.
Keon, however clarified in a public statement issued July 18m
2020, that the authorized person outside of residence is not considered an
official COVID-19 case in Laoag as he is not a resident of the city.
As the Air Force person is an instructor in disaster management
and was planning to travel to Baguio for a seminar workshop, he together with
two companions, underwent rapid testing on July 13, 2020 and was found to be
positive.
On July 15, 2020, he underwent swab testing at the Mariano Marcos
Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, which later confirmed he was positive of COVID-19
infection.
Alarmed by the latest development, Brgy. Araniw chairperson Ruben
Sampayan, where the Laoag airport is situated, said a temporary lockdown must
be implemented as a precautionary measure.
Pagudpud orders lockdown
In Pagudpud, Mr. Benemerito
also ordered the three-day lockdown of the town’s municipal hall.
Memorandum order 2020-07-029 signed on July 20, 2020, calls for
all employees at the municipal hall, including job orders and contract of
service workers, were directed to work-at-home for the duration of the lockdown,
or until July 22, 2020.
The lockdown is necessary for the municipal government to conduct
a three-day decontamination starting July 20, 2020.
Mr. Benemerito said the lockdown is necessary as two employees of
the local government unit tested positive for COVID-19.
“As a matter of protocol and precautionary measures, we have to
conduct disinfection or decontamination of the entire municipal hall building
and premises, and home quarantine for other employees,” Mr. Benemerito
explained.
Meanwhile, the municipal government also temporarily suspended
the entry of incoming locally stranded individuals (LSIs), effective July 20,
2020
The mayor also ordered the lockdown of the rural health unit, the
isolation unit and three sitios of Brgy. Saud where the two COVID-19 positive
cases came.
For the meantime, town residents are advised to stay home and
only go out for essentials, always wear face mask and maintain social
distancing at all times.
Ilocos Sur OFW bus driver becomes province’s 7th
COVID case
In Ilocos Sur, a
37-year old bus driver transporting returning Overseas Filipino workers around
Luzon tested positive for coronavirus, making him the province’s seventh COVID-19
case, or IS-C7.
Ilocos Sur Governor Ryan Luis Singson confirmed this on July 19,
2020, as he narrated that IS-C7 is from Candon City, Ilocos Sur; has an
extensive travel history including but not limited to Bicol, National Capital
Region, Tarlac, Abra and the whole of Region 1.
“His last transport assignment was on July 13-14, 2020. He began
experiencing fever and cough on the 15th hence, asked for some time
off from work,” said Mr. Singson in a public statement posted in the Ilocos Sur
provincial government official Facebook page.
Upon arrival in Candon City on July 17, 2020, he proceeded to the
Candon City Health Office for rapid testing and he was found positive. He was then referred to the Ilocos Sur
District Hospital-Magsingal for admission but due to progression of signs and
symptoms overnight, he was transferred to the Ilocos Sur Provincial Hospital
Gabriela Silang for a more intensive treatment and there he was confirmed
positive of SARS-CoV-2.
According to Mr. Singson, “no community needs to be placed on
lockdown” as patient IS-C7 immediately reported to the City Health Office upon
arrival and that all his movements were limited to hospital check-up.
The Candon City Health Office was also immediately decontaminated
and the patient’s limited contacts are already under quarantine and monitoring.
As of press time, the governor has appealed to the public to help pray for the patient’s speedy recovery as he again reminded everyone to observe minimum health standards.
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