Lanao Sur hit by record-high 30 new COVID-19 cases from 9 in April –gov

The Lanao del Sur provincial government reported 30 new COVID-19 cases from the nine recorded in April, Governor Mamintal Adiong  Jr. told GMA News Online on Sunday.

According to Adiong, the number froze in April with nine cases, noting that the sharp spike was observed  when returning residents arrived from Manila, and that most of the new cases are returnees.

In April, Lanao del Sur had nine COVID-19 cases only. Of the number, three had died and the remaining six have recovered, he said. 

“Umaapela kami na itigil muna (ang pagbalik sa probinsiya),” he told GMA News Online.

Adiong said he already reached out to the Inter-Agency Task Force through chief implementer of the government’s COVID-19 response Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año.

According to Adiong, the provincial government is expecting around 1,500 more returning residents. Thus, Adiong said they are anticipating another rise in the number of cases in the next few days.

Adiong appealed for a regulation on the arrival of returning residents, suggesting they should arrive only in a small groups of people at a time.

Moreover, he said, the quarantine facilities of the province have limited capacities and can't accommodate huge numbers of returnees.

On Thursday, the national government suspended the Balik Probinsiya, Bagong Pag-asa Program  to use its resources  in transporting stranded individuals in Metro Manila to the provinces

In a Facebook post on Saturday, Zia Alonto Adiong of the Parliament Member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority said the total cases of COVID-19 in the province is now 39, from the nine recorded cases in April.  —LBG, GMA News