Localities in central Negros have sealed their borders after Negros Occidental recorded its second coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-2019) case, a 43-year-old man from La Castellana town, on Monday night.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the municipal government has responded “very fast” by implementing a lockdown in Barangay Nato, the village where the second patient is from.
“La Castellana, I believe is on top of the situation,” Lacson said during the Capitol’s Covid-19 virtual press conference on Tuesday.
Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said the patient has been admitted to the town’s quarantine facility while his family, including his wife and child who both tested negative, has also been isolated.
Contact tracing of persons who have been exposed to the patient is also being conducted, he added.
Personnel of the Provincial Health Office have been deployed to the village to conduct a rapid test and collect specimens from residents.
La Castellana Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Manguilimutan said Barangay Nato, which has 1,148 households, was placed under extreme enhanced community quarantine (EECQ) on Tuesday, and all home quarantine passes of the residents have been canceled.
The EECQ will remain in effect until May 5 as stated in Executive Order 020-034.
“They are now under lockdown. The local government will facilitate the things they need to buy. The front-liners will also stay there. We have also asked for additional policemen and army personnel to secure the borders,” Nicor-Manguilimutan added.
Negros Occidental’s Patient No. 2 works as the driver of a couple from Pavia, Iloilo, who were found positive of the virus.
She said on March 13, he traveled from Iloilo City to Bacolod City, where he stayed overnight at his sibling’s house in Barangay Estefania.
The following day, March 14, he went to La Castellana to be with his wife and child.
He went on home quarantine for 14 days, but his symptoms manifested only on April 5. Then on April 8, he learned that his employers’ test turned out positive, prompting him to report his status to the Municipal Health Office.
On April 11, he was placed under quarantine, and on April 12, he underwent a swab test. His test result on April 20 showed that he was positive for Covid-19.
With this development, neighboring local government units (LGUs), including La Carlota City, Moises Padilla, and Isabela towns, prohibited residents of La Castellana from entering their territories and warned their own residents against going to the town.
On Monday night, La Carlota Mayor Rex Jalando-on said he has instructed the village chiefs of barangays Haguimit and RSB to lock their borders.
In Isabela, a checkpoint has been set up to ban the entry of people and vehicles from La Castellana. Its borders in barangays Bulad, Bungahin and Libas are being strictly monitored.
In Moises Padilla, residents have been advised not to travel to La Castellana. (Nanette Guadalquiver ndb via pna)