2 Isabela doctors infected with COVID

MANILA, Philippines — Two doctors in Isabela have tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Authorities said the first doctor, 46, served as surveillance specialist at the quarantine facility for Filipinos aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in New Clark City in Tarlac.

The female doctor, who arrived in Santiago City on March 13, reported for work at the Southern Isabela Medical Center after completing her 14-day quarantine.

However, on March 31, the doctor manifested flu-like symptoms. She was confined in the same hospital on April 6.

Leticia Cabrera, Department of Health (DOH)-Cagayan Valley director, said the second doctor, 31, of San Agustin town arrived from Manila on March 30. She was confined at the Santiago Medical City on the same day.

In Pangasinan, a health care worker is the first confirmed case in Laoac. The patient, a resident of Barangay Poblacion, works in a hospital outside the town, according to Laoac Mayor Ricardo Balderas.

Balderas placed Barangay Poblacion on lockdown after midnight yesterday.

Urdaneta City Mayor Julio Parayno III said a person under investigation (PUI) for the flu virus in Barangay Poblacion tested positive for COVID-19.

The Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital in Tayug remained closed yesterday as only 68 percent of test results of PUIs have been released. The hospital was closed on Sunday last week after a doctor tested positive for COVID-19.

Baguio records new case

In Baguio City, barangay street sweeper Rosemarie Cantong is the city’s 15th confirmed case. Cantong’s partner John Villanueva, 58, was also isolated.

The case was recorded on Friday, 13 days after no new infection was reported in the city.

Barangay officials and personnel of police Station 4, who had contact with Cantong, were asked to observe quarantine protocols.

A 94-year-old woman with no travel history is the seventh confirmed case in Zamboanga City, the local interagency task force on COVID-19 reported.

In Bulacan, a 51-year-old male patient died in Malolos on Friday.

A 69-year-old male from Obando was added to the list of COVID-19 patients in Bulacan, bringing to 58 the total number of confirmed cases in the province.

Extended lockdown

Meanwhile, the implementation of an enhanced community quarantine in Bacolod City was extended until April 30.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia said there are seven confirmed cases in the city, with one fatality.

Classes will remain suspended in Baguio City until May, Mayor Benjamin Magalong said.

Misamis Occidental Gov. Phillip Tan said the general quarantine is extended until April 30, but work in offices and other establishments as well as public transportation would resume on April 14.

5 recover in Cagayan Valley

As this developed, the DOH said former congressman Ramon Nolasco of Gattaran, Cagayan; a 25-year-old pregnant woman from Alicia, Isabela; an overseas Filipino worker from Tuao, Cagayan; a nurse from Solano, Nueva Vizcaya and a 71-year-old balikbayan fromTuguegarao, Cagayan have recovered from COVID-19.

Twenty of the 26 patients in Cagayan Valley have recovered. - Eva Visperas, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Roel Pareño, Ben Serrano, Arnell Ozaeta, Artemio Dumlao, Gilbert Bayoran