CAPITOL NEWS

LINGAYEN – “All Persons Under Monitoring (PUMs) in Pangasinan have been ordered to strictly follow the 14-day home quarantine procedures to prevent the local transmission of the emerging virus in the province.”

In saying this, Provincial Health Office (PHO) Chief Anna Maria Teresa de Guzman said health authorities in Pangasinan are in tight watch over 39,985 PUMs (data as of March 18, 9PM), who are advised to complete the 14-day quarantine in their respective homes.

Of the total number of PUM, 712 have already completed the 14-day quarantine period. The data consolidated by the PHO were from rural health units of town and city local government units in the province.

Based on the PHO data, no COVID-19 case is reported in Pangasinan as of date. There are 22 Patients Under Investigation (PUIs), of which 10 are admitted in hospitals, and 12 others were sent home but are regularly monitored and ordered to strictly undertake necessary health safety precautions.

“All those who returned to Pangasinan or those who came from COVID-19 affected areas outside Pangasinan, including the National Capital Region (NCR), or from abroad are directed to report to their respective barangays and barangay emergency response teams for monitoring. They are ordered to strictly undertake a 14-day quarantine in their homes,” said de Dra. Guzman.

Home quarantine is a protocol included in the executive order issued by Governor Amado I. Espino III on March 16, Monday, which placed Pangasinan under community quarantine. Said executive order supports President Rodrigo Duterte’s community quarantine declaration over the entire Luzon.

Later on the said day (March 16), the president placed the entire Luzon under enhanced community quarantine to order the halt of mass transport, and the strict implementation of home quarantine, including the 24-hr curfew, among other restrictions to prevent the local transmission of COVID-19.

“Only those who will go to grocery stores, hospitals and pharmacies will be allowed to go out of their houses,” said Dra. Guzman.

The provincial health officer said within the 14-day incubation period, a PUM is being monitored if COVID-19 symptoms which include fever, dry cough, difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath, and fatigue will occur.

If these symptoms will occur, a PUM will be considered as a PUI, who will undergo blood testing to be administered by the Philippine Institute for Tropical Medicine.

Dra. De Guzman, however, cautioned the public to become aware that a COVID-19 carrier could be asymptomatic or “would not show any symptoms at all.”

“Ang pinakamabisa talagang gawin ay sundin ang mga precautionary measures like proper handwashing o gumamit ng alcohol o sanitizer, kumain ng masustansya at balanseng pagkain at isabuhay ang healthy lifestyle,” said Dra. de Guzman

“Uminom ng vitamin C at vitamin B complex para mas palaklasin pa ang immune system,” she added. /Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca

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