DAGUPAN City again was back near the epicenter of COVID-19 pandemic in Pangasinan when its active cases surged to 102 as of 9 p.m. on April 7, confirming previous reports on TV that it is now running out of space in its two functional isolation facilities and the third still not functioning.

This as a lawyer from Dagupan died recently from the virus in a local hospital after being confined for COVID-19 for over a month. He was the third lawyer in Pangasinan to have succumbed to the disease.

The 102 active cases included the new 19 confirmed cases against only two recoveries registered in Dagupan on April 7, according to a monitoring conducted by the Dagupan Public Information Office.

This brought the total number of COVID-19 cases registered in the city since the contagion started to 1,298. Of the number, 1,131 had recovered and 65 had died.

Barangay Pantal continued to lead in the number of active cases at 21, followed by Bonuan Gueset (16), Mangin (9). Caranglaan (8), Barangay IV (7), Malued (6), Bonuan Binloc (6), Lasip Grande (5), Bonuan Boquig (4), Lucao (4), Poblacion Oeste (4), Lucao (4), Barangay II & III (2), Bolosan (2), Pogo Chico (2), Tapuac (2), Carael (1), Mayombo (1) and Lasip Grande (1).

There was no report from the Dagupan City government that it ever effected granular lockdown in streets where these COVID-19 positives live nor contact tracing done among their close contacts.

Twelve barangays had no more active cases as of April 7: Bacayao Norte, Bacayao Sur, Barangay 1, Calmay, Lomboy, Mamalingling, Pogo Grande, Pugaro, Salapingao, Salisay, Tambac and Tebeng.

Dr. Ophelia Rivera, COVID-19 focal person in Dagupan City, said the two isolation facilities in Dagupan for mild and asymptomatic cases are located at the Arizona Inn in Bonuan Boquig and the City Engineering compound in Barangay Poblacion Oeste.

Rivera clarified that these facilities are not admitting asymptomatic patients with co-morbidities and elderly citizens who are instead being referred to local hospitals.

She said the isolation facilities will have no rooms for COVID-19 suspects or probables and instead suggested that they be accommodated in hotels in the city.

Because of the surge of cases, the two LGU isolation facilities are already congested and incoming patients need to wait for others to be discharged before he or she can get in. (Leonardo Micua)

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