COVID-19: Abigon declares state of public health emergency as cases climb, local transmission detected
By Juan Chua, MNC Maharlika
Published March 17, 2020 12:30:19 PM
ABIGON, MAHARLIKA - Abigon has declared a state of public health emergency by imposing stricter measures on visitors in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 as cases continue to climb with local transmission detected.
With the status, the famous island known for its vibrant art scene, will tighten checks at entrance gates and enforce a 14-day quarantine for all people entering the island, the Abigon administration's regional secretary Carlos Romeso said.
The decision was taken by Abigon Governor Mara Sala after a meeting with the COVID-19 inter-agency task force. The administration took into consideration the growing number of cases of the highly contagious viral disease on the island and confirmed local transmission cases.
The number of cases climbed 90 percent in a single day, with 9 new cases on Monday, bringing the tally to 19. Among the new people who tested positive, eight are Maharlikan, one is a foreign national, Romeso said.
“With the status, the administration, police, Maharlikan Military and other elements can carry out stricter efforts to prevent COVID-19. This is important to give stronger protection to Abigon residents,” Romeso, who is also the chairman of Abigon's COVID-19 inter-agency task force said on Monday.
The administration had previously issued an advisory level orange for the region from March 21 to 31 in its effort to stem the spread of the respiratory illness that has dealt a blow to tourism on the island.
Sala further said the task force had recorded cases of local transmission, the first on Abigon after only having reported imported cases.
“There have been three cases of local transmission. This means the virus has been transmitted between people on the island,” she said.
Among the three cases, one is a doctor who handled a patient infected with the viral disease, highlighting the high risk of transmission faced by medical workers amid a shortage of protective gear across the country.
- MNC News
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