By HENRY EMPEÑO with CARRIE T. ASPA and RUFFIE CRUZ |

IBA, Zambales (March 26) — The provincial government announced today  the first positive case of new corona-virus (Covid-19) infection in Zam-bales amidst the growing number of persons under investigation (PUIs) in the past 10 days.

In a statement released by the Zambales Public Health Office (PHO), the first confirmed case was identified as that of a 73-year old male resident of San Antonio town.

The patient is reportedly a United States citizen with recent history of travel from Cavite to Manila.

Dr. Noel C. Bueno, head of the PHO, said samples taken from the patient tested positive for Covid-19 on March 26.

The patient is reported to be in a stable condition and was advised to continue strict observation and monitoring at home, the PHO said.

Belated reports said, however, that the patient was taken by health authorities presumably for confinement in an isolation facility.

CONTACT-TRACING

Following the release of a positive result, health officials are also focusing on containing the spread of the virus in the community.

“Contact tracing is still on-going while samples will be collected among those in close contact and had exposure with the patient,” Bueno said in the statement.

“We are releasing this information for public awareness so proper precautions will be observed,” he added.

Bueno said the patient arrived in Zambales on March 15, and developed fever and diarrhea the following day.

He first sought medical consultation at the Our Lady of Lourdes International Medical Center in Olongapo City, but reportedly was not admitted due to lack of rooms and was later referred to the President Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Hospital in this capital town.

Bueno also assured the public that the case “was handled in accordance with the established medical protocol.”

“We encourage everyone to strictly comply with social distancing, proper personal hygiene, cough etiquette and isolation,” he said. “We hope for your full cooperation so we can prevent further spread of COVID-19.”

DASHED HOPES

The confirmation burst the bubble of hope that Zambales would remain Covid-free down into the second week of the national health emergency.

As of March 25, Zambales remained free of Covid-19 infection despite the growing number of PUIs. PHO records showed that a total of 187 PUIs have been reported in 12 out of the 13 towns and one city in the province, with 162 under home quarantine, 10 admitted in local health facilities, and 15 having already completed quarantine as PUIs.

Among those admitted, three were confined at the President Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Hospital in Iba, two at the San Marcelino District Hospital, and five at Baypointe Hospital in the Subic Bay Freeport.

The biggest number of PUIs was reported in the capital town of Iba at 35, followed by 23 PUIs in Palauig town; 23 in Castillejos; 21 each in Subic and San Antonio towns; 20 in Botolan; and 10 in Cabangan.

Single-digit counts were reported in San Marcleino, with 7 PUIs; Candelaria, 5; San Narciso and Olongapo City both with 3; Sta. Cruz, 2; and San Felipe 1. Only the town of Masinloc had not yet reported any PUI since.

CONTAINMENT

Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said the provincial government is taking the Covid-19 threat seriously, and had instituted a three-tiered strategy to prevent contagion in Zambales, with health safety measures strictly enforced down to the barangay level.

Ebdane said, however, that the number of persons under monitoring (PUMs) had sharply risen in the last two weeks to a total of 8,821 because a lot of residents previously working in other places had returned to their hometowns to weather the Covid-19 outbreak.

“Containment is the key,” Ebdane pointed out. “We implement measures to prevent contamination from covering a larger area,” he added.

Ebdane said that majority of Zambales PUMs came from abroad. PUMs also included college students, as well as employees whose companies have temporarily closed.

TOP PHOTO: Dr. Noel Bueno discusses guidelines on social distancing at work to employees at the Zambales provincial hospital