LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, July 3 (PIA) — With the continuing spike in COVID-19 cases, Governor Melchor Diclas reiterates appeal to the people to always comply with the minimum public health standards such as wearing of masks, practice of social and physical distancing, washing or sanitation of hands, practicing cough etiquette and staying healthy as well as staying at home as much as possible to prevent the further spread of the virus as the province reverts to general community quarantine.

Diclas also calls on the public to observe the revised guidelines on the implementation of the GCQ in Benguet as provided in his Executive Order 043-2020.

The province of Benguet has 40 COVID-19 positive cases since March. The newest case, an overseas Filipino worker from Tublay, came after the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on June 30 that Benguet province is among the areas in the country under GCQ from July 1 to 15, 2020.

The OFW arrived on June 30 at the Benguet Temporary Provincial Quarantine Facility from Manila with complete documents showing he had tested negative for Covid-19 and has completed the required days of quarantine. As a protocol, he was swabbed at the facility and the test result that was released on July 1 was positive for COVID-19

In the latest COVID-19 update from the Benguet provincial government, 39 cases were recorded in the province as of July 3, 2020. 34 patients have already recovered while the active cases including two police officers are admitted in health facilities in La Trinidad and Baguio City.

One COVID-19 positive case, a 40-year old male resident of Atok who came from Nigeria, and is admitted at the Benguet General Hospital, is not reflected in the data of the province since the Department of Health already reflected this in the national data and classified as him Repatriate. This is to avoid double reporting of confirmed cases.

This week, 11 patients who recovered from the COVID-19 were discharged from the Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) and Pines City Doctor’s Hospital in Baguio City. Last week, 13 COVID -19 patients were discharged from the BeGH.

BeGH Chief Dr. Meliarazon Dulay said almost all the patients were asymptomatic since they were admitted until they were discharged. They did not show any sign and symptom of illness such as cough, colds or flu but still they were treated and isolated at the hospital for at least 14-days.

As 10 patients were released from the BeGH this week, three new patients were admitted – two OFWs, and farmer from Buguias.

Diclas calls on the public to observe the revised guidelines on the implementation of the GCQ in Benguet as provided in his Executive Order 043-2020. (JDP/RMC PIA-CAR)