Benguet, La Union COVID- free; Cagayan starts test lab

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — The provinces of Benguet and La Union have been declared free of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 after their remaining patients have recovered.

Benguet Gov. Melchor Diclas, board member Juan Nazarro and Mayor Romeo Salda of La Trinidad town witnessed the sendoff ceremony for a 79-year-old man and his son, 46, who were discharged here from the Benguet General Hospital on Tuesday.

              The patients were confined in April.

Benguet recorded 10 confirmed cases, all whom have recovered.

Meanwhile, the Dept. of Health-Ilocos regional office said no new case was recorded in La Union on Wednesday.

Seventeen COVID-19 patients have recovered while four died.

La Union Gov. Francisco Emmanuel Ortega reminded the public that the war against the virus is far from over.

              “Let us now embrace the minimum health standards as a way of life,” Ortega said.

               Meanwhile, the Cagayan Valley Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan started operating as COVID testing laboratory on Wednesday.

               Leticia Cabrera, DOH-Region 2 assistant director, said the laboratory is capable of testing up to 36 specimens, with results released at the latest after 72 hours.

              “We can now accommodate specimen samples from various hospitals in the region and get quick results,” Cabrera said.

              She said the region has been COVID-free for almost a month now. -- Victor Martin, Raymund Catindig