Mankayan Covid- 19 cases reach 103

By Redjie Melvic Cawis

MANKAYAN, Benguet – Covid-19 cases increased here making the local government up measures to cope with the surge. Mayor Frenzel  Ayong said since November, there have was a surge of Covid-19 cases in the mining community of Lepanto with 69 single-day infections on Dec. 3.
    From 24 Covid-19 cases in Nov. 15 when two cases were confirmed, the municipality recorded a total of 192 cases as of Dec. 3.
    Of the 69 new cases, 38 new patients came from Barangay Paco, 27; Sapid, 3; Poblacion and one from Barangay Tabio.
    The cases were known after contact tracing of local government testing of Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co.  
    Ayong confirmed Covid-related death in the municipality, a 59-year-old male from Paco with co-morbidity who expired on Nov. 29.  
    To abate infection, the local government announced there will be no issuance of health declaration forms starting Dec.  5 to give the health workers time to give attention to functions especially in helping contact tracing teams in the municipality.
    Residents who intend to travel on Saturdays and Sundays should obtain their health declaration forms on the weekend prior to their travel. 
    The local government was set to close the municipal public market and its premises including the slaughter compound and Cervantes Road every Sunday for disinfection and decontamination measures. 
    Market schedule was implemented in the municipality effective Dec. 7: Monday- Barangays Balili and Tabio; Tuesday- Bulalacao and Colalo; Wednesday- Guinaoang and Taneg; Thursday-Suyoc and Bedbed; Friday: Poblacion and Cabiten. and Saturday- Paco and Sapid. 
    Ayong extended the lockdown imposed on Sitio Marivic, Barangay Sapid and Paco for 10 more days following enhanced community quarantine guidelines until Dec.  7 as advised by the municipality’s medical and contact tracing team.
    The lockdown was issued on Nov.  20 due to the sudden surge of Covid-19 cases. 
Ayong directed the mining company last week to come up with alternative work schedule to minimize exposure of more mine workers and other measures for the company to cope   with increasing   cases. 
    The local chief executive also is looking forward to the request for mass testing to be conducted in the municipality thru the National Task Force against Covid-19. 
    Meanwhile, Gov. Melchor Diclas said in a press briefing the provincial government provided 50 cavans of rice for those affected by Covid-19 in Lepanto. 
    Ayong added while the government and the mining company were undertaking containment and remedial measures, the public was asked to continue cooperating with the authorities. – PIA Cordillera