Tuguegarao mayor tests positive for COVID

TUGUEGARAO CITY – The mayor here is the latest to test positive for coronavirus disease 2019 after the city reverted to strictest enhanced community quarantine or ECQ.

Mayor Jefferson Soriano was among the 1,000 residents who underwent swab tests on Thursday.

Soriano was brought to the People’s General Hospital on Friday night after his test results were released. He said he is asymptomatic.

He appealed to those who had interacted with him in the past several days to undergo self-quarantine and monitor themselves for symptoms of the disease.

Philippine National Police deputy chief Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar was among those who were exposed to Soriano when the PNP official turned over a generator set to the city police on Friday.

Tuguegarao logged 62 cases two days after it was placed under ECQ on Wednesday.

In Solana town, 18 persons from the Haven for Women and Children, which is managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), were found infected on Friday.

The provincial health office said DSWD social workers, staff and children were among those who contracted the virus.

MECQ extended

In Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Luis

Singson extended the modified ECQ in Cabugao town until Feb. 5.

Cabugao was placed under MECQ on Jan. 8 as the number of COVID cases surged. The town reported 34 active cases.

The stricter quarantine was supposed to be effective only until Jan. 22. – Raymund Catindig