Lambunao 1st COVID case infects 4 family members

Not wearing facemask in public places is now an offense in Iloilo city and province. Facemask covering the nose and mouth of the wearer prevents droplets expelled when coughing or sneezing from infecting others, according to Mayor Jerry Treñas. IAN PAUL CORDERO/PN

ILOILO City – Western Visayas recorded five more persons positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) yesterday, four of whom were family members of the first confirmed case in the municipality of Lambunao.

The five new cases brought to 30 the number of COVID-19 cases in Region 6, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

The four new cases in Lambunao were the 70-year-old wife (Patient No. 29) of the town’s first case (who eventually died) and the couple’s three children – a 39-year-old female (Patient No. 27), 41-year-old male (Patient No. 28) and a 48-year-old female (Patient No. 30).

All four of them were asymptomatic (not showing COVID-19 symptoms) and currently on home quarantine, according to DOH.

The family now has a total of six members positive for COVID-19. Earlier, a 44-year-old daughter also tested positive.

Meanwhile, the other confirmed positive case yesterday was a 48-year-old male from Bacolod City (Patient No. 26) with a travel history to Los Angeles, USA and Manila. He also had hypertension and polymyositis.

He had close contact of Patient No. 14, still with dry cough but in stable condition.

In the whole Region 6, Iloilo province has now the most number of positive cases with 11, followed by Bacolod City with seven, Aklan with five, Capiz and Iloilo City with three each, and Negros Occidental, one.

Antique and Guimaras still have no cases.

With the additional cases in Lambunao, Mayor Reynor Gonzales ordered strict home quarantine of all the residents of the barangay where the family with positive cases resides.

Contract tracing has also been launched.

People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

These droplets also land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.

The local government of Lambunao called on to those who have close contact with the family members to coordinate with the Municipal Health Office.

Meantime, all the needs of the quarantined family are being shouldered by the local government of Lambunao.

All residents of the town are strictly required to stay in their homes except for one family member with a quarantine pass to buy basic necessities./PN

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