Pangasinan mass testing: 12 Covid cases out of 1,821

By Liezle Basa-Inigo

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- The first wave of expanded targeted testing conducted by the provincial government of Pangasinan found 12 COVID-19 positive cases out of 1,821 tested individuals, or a 0.65 percent positivity rate.

Provincial Health Officer Anna Maria Teresa De Guzman said the number can be attributed to the “active case finding” strategy applied by the provincial government.

In the second wave of the expanded mass testing, the provincial government targeted frontline hospital workers, local health officers (doctors, nurses, midwives, ambulance drivers), Philippine National Police personnel, risk reduction staff, and Bureau of Fire Protection personnel. among others.

The provincial government is still waiting for the results.

Dagupan City  and Sual municipality, also conducting mass testing, yielded 14 and 4 cases respectively. Of the 14 cases in Dagupan City, 12 are from the chartered city and two from San Fabian and San Carlos City.

De Guzman noted that all the positive COVID-19 cases were “asymptomatic,” meaning they manifested no symptoms of the coronavirus. Contact tracing was immediately held right after.

Based on the Provincial Health Office’s latest report, there are a total of 70 positive cases as of June 9.

Although the mass testing yielded a positivity rate of less than one percent, Gov. Amado I. Espino III said the provincial government cannot be complacent over the result.

“Binibilinan po natin ang ating mga kababayan na mag-ingat pa rin po tayo, dahil ‘di pa po tapos ang problema sa laban natin dito sa virus na ito (We remind our countrymen to be careful because our problems fighting this virus are not over),” he said.

Espino also said the provincial government’s economic team is currently studying more livelihood opportunities for Pangasinenses to augment their income.