BANGUED, Abra – The provincial task force on the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) confirmed that a 39-year old seaman became the first individual to have contracted the deadly virus not only by the province but also in the Cordillera after his confirmatory test results turned out positive on the same, prompting the aggressive conduct of contact tracing and precautionary measures to prevent the further spread of the illness.
The seaman from Manabo town who showed mild COVID-19 symptoms arrived in the province last March 3, 2020 and reportedly visited a barangay in Sallapadan and 2 barangays in Licuan-Baay before reportedly mingling with people during the celebration of the province’s Kawayan Festival the previous week which is now serving as a challenge for concerned authorities on how to ascertain the people that had close contract with him.
The task force claimed that the first COVID-19 case in Abra had history of travel in the Middle East and was able to test positive for the deadly virus in a medical facility based in San Fernando City, La Union.
Currently, the provincial task force limited the travel inside and outside the province as public and private vehicles are only allowed to travel up to midnight daily.
The task force is also implementing all the necessary precautionary measures by the concerned health authorities and that a barangay quarantine and a household lockdown on the residence of the patient has already been enforced.
Further, it was ordered by the task force that there will be a province-wide curfew from 9 pm to 4 am and temporary closure of all videoke bars in the capital town effectively on March 17, 2020 as one of the precautionary measures against the further spread of the COVID-19.
The task force called on the public to rely on the Provincial Government’s Official Facebook page, Abra Province, for credible reports and updates of the deadly virus.
According to the task force, everyone should remain calm and sober as it is now implementing all necessary measures to contain and prevent the spread of the deadly virus that will affect the community.
By Dexter A. See