Ilocos Norte is COVID-19 Zero Infection

After Ilocos Norte reverted to “zero infection” status, Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc reiterated that the province will remain under total lockdown until Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine is in effect and urged the public to responsibly adhere to Coronavirus Disease 2019 protocols.

“The lockdown remains until the end of the month. We will see what President [Rodrigo R.] Duterte allows us to do after that,” he remarked.

Governor Marcos Manotoc cited that the “most crucial” is to make sure that there is no unnecessary entry of individuals from outside the provincial borders.

“Hopefully, we can resume our movement within Ilocos Norte. We want to limit or regulate very tightly the entry of people to Ilocos Norte,” he added.

Pgin To Set Up Additional Quarantine Facilities

At present, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) is establishing additional isolation quarters for different types of patients, including the construction of six temporary quarantine rooms in the borderlines.

Governor Marcos Manotoc added that half of the province’s towns have already established their quarantine facilities.

“In the future, we hope that each town can have their own quarantine facilities,” he expressed.

Earlier this month, PGIN prepared 40 rooms at Plaza del Norte and makeshift tents at Department of Public Works and Highways–Ilocos Norte First District Engineering Office Compound as quarantine site.

Moreover, in line with the Executive Order 67-20 requiring the use of face mask in public, the Provincial Government will supply each town a certain number of masks to be distributed to its constituents.

However, Governor Marcos Manotoc clarified that frontliners in medical institutions and checkpoints remain to be the primary recipients of personal protective equipment.

Angel V. Agliam, PGIN-CMO