NEGROS ORIENTAL, June 3 (PIA) -- Dr. Liland Estacion, health committee head of the local Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) disclosed today six new confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Negros Oriental.
This bring a total of 17 confirmed positive cases in the province as of June 3.
However, the health official said they are all asymptomatic and are currently staying in separate quarantine areas.
Estacion in a press briefing revealed that the six new confirmed cases include two pescadores or fishermen from Ayungon; two from Mabinay, a locally stranded individual (LSI) and an OFW; one LSI from Vallehermoso town; three from Bacolod City; and an 11 year-old LSI from Bolocboloc, Sibulan who came from Barili, Cebu.
She added that a sitio at Brgy. Bugnay in Mabinay town is now placed under lockdown after the LSI who tested positive for COVID-19 roamed around and made contact with neighbors.
It was reported that the two confirmed cases from Mabinay, both male - a 42 year-old seafarer who passed by Bacolod airport and a 25 year-old construction worker who allegedly went around their neighborhood - are all asymptomatic.
“They are now placed in their respective quarantine facilities in the town, and they will just be brought to the provincial hospital if they develop signs and symptoms,” said Estacion.
The health official made it clear to the media that the cases are not local transmission and all 17 positive cases are asymptomatic.
However, local health workers in Mabinay have started contact tracing yesterday for the seafarer and the 25 year-old LSI.
The two fishermen bring to 13 the total number of individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 from the 171 fishermen who were quarantined since May 21 after they disembarked from the fishing vessel.
From the total number of fishermen, 155 are negative for the virus, and the other three pescadores are still awaiting their test results.
The pescadores who tested positive are all asymptomatic and are quarantined in a provincial government facility.
Meanwhile, under the national guidelines of the IATF, local government units cannot refuse the acceptance of LSIs which include returning OFWs, tourists or foreigners.
However, according to Assistant Provincial Administrator Atty. Froilan Pinili, there are still requirements to follow such as travel authority, health or medical certificate, and barangay certification that they have undergone quarantine for 14 days. (jct/PIA7 Negros Oriental)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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