9 new COVID cases recorded in Bataan

BALANGA CITY, Philippines — Nine more persons in Bataan have tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), bringing the total number of cases to 36, health authorities reported yesterday.

This developed as a 40-year-old medical technologist became the first COVID-19 case in Cauayan City, Isabela, while the city of Olongapo posted its fifth case.

Bataan Gov. Albert Garcia said from 27 on Saturday, the confirmed cases in their province jumped to 36 yesterday after six women and three men tested positive for the virus.

The new cases included women in their 30s from the towns of Hermosa and Orion as well as in Balanga City, a 19-year-old boy from Samal and two men from Limay and Orani. 

The patients are being treated in different hospitals in the province.

In Olongapo City, a 35-year-old-woman tested positive for COVID on Friday and became the city’s fifth case

The patient has been confined in a hospital in Bataan for manifesting symptoms of the disease.

Meanwhile, the first COVID case in Cauayan City had close contact with a doctor who tested positive for the disease at the Southern Isabela Medical Center (SIMC) in Santiago City last week.

The doctor reportedly supervised the quarantine facility for Filipino repatriates at the New Clark City in Tarlac.

The medical technologist manifested flu symptoms and was admitted at the SIMC where she underwent COVID test.

She is the 27th confirmed case in Cagayan Valley.

In Zambales, two senior citizens have recovered from COVID, according to the provincial health office.

One of the patients, a 73-year-old man from San Antonio town, tested negative for the virus on April 3 and 6. He was the first COVID case in the province, according to Noel Bueno, chief of the provincial health office.

Bueno said swab tests taken on April 4 from a 62-year-old patient from San Marcelino town had negative results. 

Student held for fake news

A high school student has been arrested for allegedly spreading false information in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, police reported yesterday.

The suspect, 18 years old, posted on social media that he is infected with the virus, according to Maj. Antonio Benitez, chief of the Sagay City police.

The local task force on COVID-19 examined the suspect and found him to be neither showing any symptoms nor exposed to persons confirmed or under investigation for the disease.

The student is detained at the custodial facility of the city police.

From March 30 to April 12, police arrested 879 violators of the enhanced community quarantine in Negros Occidental.

Quarantine violators in Sagay City are taken to a gym where an overnight vigil in front of an empty coffin is held, to remind them of their fate should they continue to breach quarantine protocols imposed by the government to contain the disease. 

Those caught violating the mandatory wearing of face masks are made to clean the city hall. – With Bebot Sison Jr., Raymund Catindig, Gilbert Bayoran