DUMAGUETE CITY—Negros Oriental has recorded 12 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday (Oct. 15), bringing the province’s total infections to 203.
But Dr. Liland Estacion, ground commander of the local Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, said only 20 cases remained active.
Seven of the new COVID-19 cases, she said, involved direct contacts of one of the province’s patients who had been to virus hot spot Manila. Among the new patients were five people from Pamplona town and one each from the towns of Bacong and Zamboanguita.
The seven are now on quarantine at the Negros Oriental provincial hospital here, along with the patient who was believed to be the source of the new infections.
Another infection from Pamplona was a result of local transmission. Estacion said the 30-year-old woman caught the virus from her parents, both business people, who had tested positive.
Three of the new infections were those of stranded individuals who had returned to the province, including a three-week-old baby repatriated from Manila with its parents. Others who had been infected included a 22-year-old man from the town of La Libertad and another man, 48-years-old, from Sibulan town.
An overseas Filipino worker repatriated from Qatar, who is a resident of Mabinay town, was also infected.
Several establishments and villages in Negros Oriental have been closed or placed on lockdown.
The Hall of Justice in this city, which houses several municipal and regional trial courts, has been closed since Wednesday (Oct. 14) for disinfection.
According to a memo issued by Executive Judge Gerardo Paguio Jr., the closure was prompted by a COVID-19 case there this month.
Two villages in southern Zamboanguita town—Mayabon and Lutoban—are also currently on lockdown, according to Mayor Glenson Alanano.
A strict stay-at-home order is now in place for residents in the two villages aged above 60 below 21.
Alanano said distribution of learning modules for students at the two villages had also been suspended. Schools at the two villages were also ordered temporarily closed.
Gov. Roel Degamo also ordered the temporary closure of the Negros Oriental provincial capitol in this city for disinfection until Friday (Oct. 16).
Work has been suspended in the capitol as a result.