Covid scare hits Ilocos Norte capitol

Board member’s secretary contracts virus

More than 100 employees and officials of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan underwent reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction tests

Ilocos Norte locked down the offices of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) on Monday after the staff of one of its members contracted the coronavirus disease.

More than 100 employees and officials underwent reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction tests, according to provincial health officer Dr. Josephine Ruedas.

They are primary contacts of a Provincial Board member’s 62-year-old secretary (IN-C767) who was confirmed positive on Saturday.

“Regardless of the result, all of them must complete the 14-day quarantine period,” Ruedas said.

Patient IN-C767, from Barangay 29 in Santo Tomas town, also had contact with her daughter-in-law (IN-C759), who similarly tested positive.

As of Sunday, Ilocos Norte still has 25 active cases (out of 769 total infections), 740 recoveries and four deaths.

The police and Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams are also monitoring areas under lockdown in Laoag (certain areas of Sitio 6 of Barangay 34-B Gabu Norte East and Barangay 29) and Pasuquin (Sitio Cattleya, Sitio Sampaguita and Sitio Ilang-ilang in Barangay Poblacion and Sitio Sanyata of Barangay Naglicuan).

Last week, the Provincial Health Task Force began conducting full-scale simulation exercises in preparation for the arrival of AstraZeneca vaccines.

In Baguio, three small isolation centers will be temporarily closed to cut on expenses.

Public Information Office chief Aileen Refuerzo said Monday the closure will help reduce the local government’s expenses and focus on the bigger ones to ensure sustainable Covid-19 response.

To be closed are the facilities at the V-Dorm and the Ferioni Apartment, which have a total bed capacity of about 140, in Barangay Teodora Alonzo.

Regardless of the result, all close contacts must complete the 14-day quarantine period.

The city will maximize the Sto. Niño community isolation facility, with a bed capacity of 300, and Teachers Camp halls, which maintain 500 beds.

The 24-bed Baguio Convention Center, adjacent to the city’s triage center, continues to operate, too.

As of Sunday, Baguio still has 252 active Covid-19 cases out of the 5,466 total infections.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF ILOCOS NORTE LGU ILOCOS Norte Task Force Salun-at leads the full-scale simulation of the province’s Covid-19 vaccination program in Solsona and Batac. The province will provide AstraZeneca vaccines to the first batch of recipients.