Mass tests on in highly infected Ilocos village

By Caren Grace R. Cabanayan

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La union --  – Due to surge of Covid-19 infection recorded in barangay San Agustin here , the city government launched an expanded mass testing  in said village which started August 2. 

In partnership with the provincial government of La Union and Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center, some 2,148 residents of San Agustin had been swabbed since mass testing was launched.

This number is 96 percent of its total population.  Forty-six yielded positive results.

The confirmed Covid-19 patients are now housed in health care and isolation facilities.
According to Dr. Arman Carrera, city health officer, “Dahil dikit-dikit ‘yung bahay, hindi maiiwasan na sila ay magkakakumpulan. Ang posibilidad ay dahil hindi natin alam kung isa sa kanila ay positive kasi siya ay asymptomatic, ang taong iyon ang maaaring rason para maikalat ‘yung virus.”
“Ang mga palikuran nila ay communal. Saan nanggagaling ang virus? Sa laway.  For instance, hindi natin alam kung nilinisan ba ng gumamit ang CR matapos nyang dumura. Pwede rin ‘yon maging sanhi ng transmission,” he added.

In total, the barangay recorded 57 cases of which two had died, four have recovered, and 49 were admitted in hospitals and quarantine facilities. 

To prevent further transmission of the virus, the barangay remains under total lockdown.
The city government ensures residents are adequately supplied with food packs, potable water, and medicines and immune boosters. 

Frontline workers are also well-taken care of as they were given containers of alcohol, sets of personal protective equipment, boxes of both surgical and N95 masks, and gloves.
Portable toilets were also installed for them.

Meanwhile, expanded mass testing is also being conducted among healthcare workers and high risk sub-groups.

As of August 17, some 1,670 individuals had been tested wherein 1,295 were frontliners and 375 were those who had close contacts with COVID-19 infected patients. 

City Mayor Alfredo Pablo Ortega appealed to the public, “Sana ay tuluy-tuloy pa rin ang pakikipagtulungan at kooperasyon ng bawat isa para sa ating siyudad, hindi lamang sa barangay San Agustin kundi sa buong San Fernando City.” -- PIA La Union