Detainee, Cafgu, OFW Apayao new C-19 cases

By Redjie Melvic Cawis

PUDTOL, Apayao – A detainee, Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) member and an overseas foreign worker were among folks infected lately with Covid-19 in this town. 

Aggressive contact tracing is now ongoing  for people who may have come in  contact  with   three new Covid-19 positive  cases.

Mayor Hector Reuel Pascua said the three new cases on August 9 brought to five the town’s total number of Covid-19 cases.

Pascua in his official statement, said third case was a 25 year old male returning overseas Filipino.

He completed the 14 day quarantine and tested negative before going home to Apayao.

He underwent another 7-day mandatory quarantine in his hometown which he also completed.

Then he was served a warrant of arrest due to a previous case he was involved with.

He was detained at the Pudtol Municipal Police Station, and as a requirement for admission to the Luna Bureau of Jail and Management and Penology facility, was swabbed   and   his test result that came in August 8 turned  positive for Covid-19.

The fourth case was a 35 year old female, a barangay health worker from Barangay Aurora.

She was swabbed tested on August 5 as part of the mass testing for frontliners in the province.  

She was found asymptomatic and now admitted at the Far North Luzon Hospital and Training Center in Luna due to an existing medical condition.

The fifth case was a 22 year old   member of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) and a resident of Barangay Cacalaggan. He exhibited symptoms and was immediately transported to the Far North Luzon Hospital and Training Center.

Pascua said concerned barangays where patients reside are now placed on temporary lockdown as well as the municipal boarders.

The temporary lockdown will not hamper government of essential goods, agricultural products, workers and APORs subject to verification of appropriate identification papers, media documents and travel authority documents.

The Pudtol police station was also placed under temporary lockdown while awaiting test results of uniformed personnel in direct contact with the detainee.

Pascua urged people to take precautionary measures reminding  them to avoid spreading unverified information  that  discriminate the patients and their families. -- PIA CAR