Active COVID-19 cases in Ilocos Norte reach 357 with 59 new infections

Health workers in Ilocos Norte continue to conduct aggressive contact tracing to contain the spread of COVID-19. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

LAOAG CITY –– The number of active COVID-19 cases in Ilocos Norte rose to 357 after 59 new patients were added to the province’s latest tally, local health authorities said.

In its May 17 bulletin, the provincial government said the 59 new active cases were contacts of previously recorded infections.

The provincial government noted that the new patients had been isolated.

At least 16 of the new cases were children, including a 6-month-old baby girl from this city.

The oldest patient is a 95-year-old woman from Bacarra town.

Laoag City has the highest number of active cases with 179, followed by Bacarra with 72, and Batac City with 25.

On May 17, Bacarra Mayor Fritzie dela Cruz placed the town’s new public market on lockdown after three vendors tested positive for COVID-19.

Mayor Michael Marcos Keon also enforced a five-day lockdown on May 16 at the Laoag City General Hospital after a health worker was infected with the virus.

Ilocos Norte has so far recorded 2,341 COVID-19 active cases. The provincial government said 1,958 had recovered from the disease while 26 had died.

LZB