Ilocos Sur confirms first COVID-19 case as town locks down

The Ilocos Sur Provincial Government on Saturday confirmed the province's first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case.

In a statement, Governor Ryan Luis Singson said that the patient was a 55-year old female who was initially brought to Ilocos Sur District Hospital-Tagudin on March 21.

The patient was later transported to La Union and admitted to the Bethany Hospital.

According to Singson, the family denied that the patient had developed symptoms when her medical history was being taken.

However, when local authorities probed further, they discovered that the patient began exhibiting symptoms such as coughing, a cold, and intermittent fever since March 18.

According to Singson, the town was now under extreme enhanced community quarantine or lockdown.

"Thus no one will be allowed to enter and exit the said barangay. Further, an extensive contact tracing shall be conducted in relation to the patient," Singson said.

All residents of Magsaysay, Tagudin were also directed to observe a strict home quarantine. — DVM, GMA News