Mankayan bares 4 Covid cases; travel permits ok’d

MANKAYAN, Benguet –The local govnerment here has resumption issuance of travel permits at the Poblacion Plaza on August 18 after suspending such after tracing was  done to find contacts of the town’s four new Covid-19 cases. 

Mayor Frenzel Ayong said the new cases were known due to contact tracing and l swab results of close contact of a minor who tested positive of the Covid-19 in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. 

The new cases include a 46 year old female from Pabileng, Barangay Tabio; a 45 year old male residing at Mankayan sub-office in Barangay Guinaoang; a 28 year old male from Matiked, Barangay Paco, and male, 55, from Busigan, Barangay Balili. 

They were transported to the Benguet General Hospital in La Trinidad in August 11 while lockdown was ordered in their areas of residence effective evening of Aug. 10 until firther notice.

Ayong said they were notified by Vigan City government about a seven year old child who came from Mankayan and tested positive for Covid-19.

The child was listed as the 34th Covid19 patient in Vigan. 

 The child with her family arrived in Vigan from Baguio City on July 24 but their travel was “uncoordinated.”

The family was immediately quarantined even as barangay personnel in Vigan said they had no substantial contacts with other people.

 It was traced that the minor together with his family from Lower Paalaban, Barangay Paco went to the Mankayan town plaza in July 20 to apply for health certificates and travel documents.

The family travelled to Vigan in July 23. 

As precaution, the mayor ordered contact tracing of contacts of the minor  that included 140 individuals who were at the plaza applying for travel passes during the time the family was there. 

 Seventy eight  were initially contact traced, and in the  test results that came out in August 10,  four  were  positive for Covid-19.

 The Mankayan government is still conducting contact tracing of remaining possible contacts of the child- patient as well as the new cases. – PIA CAR