102 new COVID-19 cases recorded in Ilocos Norte

Health workers conduct mass swab testing in Bangui, Ilocos Norte, after a sharp rise of COVID-19 cases was recorded in the town. (Photo courtesy of Ilocos Norte provincial government)

LAOAG CITY––At least 101 more patients recovered from COVID-19 in Ilocos Norte in the past two days, health officials said Thursday. But 102 new infections were recorded during the period, bringing the total number of active COVID-19 cases to 533.

Laoag City continues to have the most active cases at 164, followed by Bangui (118), San Nicolas (60), Batac (35), Batac (24), and Sarrat (22), according to the local health data.

Mass gatherings, such as parties, had been identified as a “super spreader event” of the disease, provincial health consultant Dr. Norman Rabago said during a press briefing.

He said Ilocos Norte’s health task force had called on the police to help monitor and implement health standards.

“We all have in place the strategies [but] it is only the implementation [which] needs to be worked on. We all know what to do, but sometimes we just don’t want to [follow these health protocols],” Rabago said.

The provincial health task force will ensure a fast and orderly vaccination drive in the province to protect senior citizens and persons with co-morbidities from COVID-19, added Rabago.

Ilocos Norte has logged a total of 3,367 COVID-19 cases, of which at least 2839 had recovered, and 53 had died. INQ

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