PHO: Only 14 active cases remaining in Pangasinan
DAGUPAN IS COVID-FREE
WITH only 14 active cases recorded by the Provincial Health Office as of January 22, 2023, Pangasinan remains under Alert Level 1 quarantine classification. And if the trend continues, provincial health officials are optimistic that Pangasinan may be declared COVID-free.
This was gleaned during the Question Hour of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on January 23 when Fourth District Board Member Jerry Agerico Rosario sought an update on the current status of COVID-19 in the province after almost three years.
Invited to the Question Hour were Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ana de Guzman, Dr. Dalvie Casilang, chief of the Pangasinan Hospital Management System; Rhodyn Oro, chief of the provincial IATF and currently chief of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and P/Colonel Jeff Fanged, PNP provincoal director.
Dr. De Guzman said the only active COVID-19 cases remaining were two each in Calasiao and San Jacinto, and one each in Alaminos City, Bani, Bayambang, Binmaley, Lingayen. Malasiqui, Manaoag, Mangaldan and San Carlos City.
Dagupan City has no recorded active case, said De Guzman.
The Provincial Epidemiological Surveillance Unit (PESU) of the Provincial Health Office reported that the seven-day case average from January 16 to 22 was already down to two.
Of the remaining 14 active cases, three are confined in private hospitals, three at the Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan and one each in three other government hospitals in Pangasinan, and the rest on home isolation.
Dr. Casilang told the SP that the 14 provincial government-run hospitals made available 75 rooms for COVID-19 patients in severe and symptomatic condition but there were only few severe cases admitted and most were elderlies and persons who are immuno-compromised.
On Board Member Rosario’s question if a surge was felt after the Christmas period, De Guzman said no surge was recorded and she credited the successful campaign for the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine and resiliency of Pangasinenses to quickly adopt the standard health protocol.
She admitted it was the Omicron variant of COVID-19 that hit Pangasinan.
Meanwhile, Oro reminded the SP about Executive Order No. 3 dated September 12, 2022 that ordered the voluntary wearing of face masks in open spaces and non-crowded areas with good ventilation, and mandatory wearing of face masks indoor public and private establishments, including public transportation and in outdoor settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained.
Col. Fanged told the SP that the 18 border control points of the police, still remain but these are now being utilized as criminal control checkpoints to prevent crimes in Pangasinan. (Leonardo Micua)
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