Classes in 2 Pangasinan towns suspended amid coronavirus threat

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The local governments of Lingayen and Bugallon towns suspended the classes in all levels on Monday as a precautionary measure amid the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID 19).

In a statement, Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil said school officials and administrators were instructed to sanitize and disinfect their campuses and classrooms to counter the spread of COVID-19.

Bataoil said the local government has already heightened its measures to avoid panic among the public, to ensure everyone’s safety and to fully comply with the national government’s declaration of state of public emergency.

In Bugallon, Mayor Priscilla Espino suspended classes to conduct sanitation in all schools and public places to “secure the well-being of the students and residents.”

A Filipino woman from Australia, who was recently tested positive for the virus, stayed overnight at her ancestral house in Lingayen on Feb. 22 after attending a high school class reunion in Dagupan City.

The woman, in her 60s, also had breakfast in one of the resorts in the province.

Anna de Guzman, provincial health officer, said the virus-stricken woman also visited Aguilar town to have lunch with a former classmate before heading to Manila.

De Guzman said her office had traced all the persons that the woman had a dealing with but none of them manifested symptoms of COVID-19.