STRICTER ENFORCEMENT ORDERED

STRICTER border control and tighter enforcement of home quarantine regulations are among the strategies to be given more impetus in Pangasinan after the lockdown of the province was extended by President Duterte till May 15 this year to ensure that no more COVID-19 cases will be added to the statistics.

This was spelled out by Governor Amado Espino III as he expressed confidence that the extension of the lockdown of the province for another 15 days from April 30 is advantageous to the province and its three million people.

But depending on the situations, the lockdown of Pangasinan, along with Benguet and Zambales may yet change by April 30 this year. However, Pangasinan is given a strong chance to be COVID-19-free soon.

Speaking through Provincial Information Officer Orpheus Velasco, Gov. Espino said he was already mulling over the imposition of stricter border control after noting that most of 36 COVID-19 cases so far registered in the province were infected by persons who travelled to Manila or abroad or have gone to Manila themselves.

To date, there are now only four COVID-19 patients confined in various hospitals in Pangasinan, two of whom are from Poblacion, Urdaneta City who are confined at the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in San Carlos City; another from Barangay Mayombo, Dagupan City who is confined at the Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan while the fourth COVID-19 patient is from Laoac.

Governor Espino expressed optimism with the report that since April 13, no COVID-19 case has been added to the list, is an indication, he said, that Pangasinan has already flattened the curve of the coronavirus disease.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Anna de Guzman earlier expressed confidence that Pangasinan will be eventually declared COVID-19-free in two weeks or earlier, citing the 23 COVID-19 patients who recovered from the disease against the nine who died.

Dr. De Guzman attributed this feat to the better treatment management protocol developed by doctors, nurses and other frontliners for every patient that they attended.

At the same time, Dr. De Guzman noted that Pangasinenses are now more conscious of their health and are seeking early consultation with health professionals every time they feel symptoms of COVID-like diseases like coughs, fever and colds. (Leonardo Micua)

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