Police chief Major Erwin Ferry, Mayor Sylvia Austria,and MHO Dr. Benny Lopez jointly announce end of lockdown. Photo by Armand M. Galang
JAEN, Nueva Ecija – The wife and immediate family members of the “dead man from Malabon City” who was given a three-day wake in Barangay San Roque here have tested negative of coronavirus disease in swab tests.
Dr. Benny Lopez, municipal health officer, said the two embalmers and driver who brought the body from San Lorenzo Ruiz Hospital (SLRGH) in Malabon City to Barangay San Roque this town also tested negative.
Mayor Sylvia Austria, Jaen IATF head, said the village was placed under lockdown to contain the spread of the virus after learning that the body buried on June 26 was positive of Covid-19.
Reports said the 47-year-old patient who complained of hardship in breathing died at SLRGH early morning on June 23 and was brought here on the same day.
Lopez said that beside the immediate members of the deceased’s family, 245 people in the village were subjected to rapid test conducted Wednesday, with the test kits provided jointly by the provincial and municipal governments.
They also tested negative, according to the town’s inter-agency task force.
“Happy po naman kami kasi 100 percent negative po ang resulta,” Lopez said, explaining that they subjected to test all the contacts, including those living in other towns.
He expressed belief that based on the results, there would no longer be local transmission in this town but said they will not let their guard down.
The Jaen IATF will also continue monitoring all the contacts, the health official added.
Austria, meanwhile, called on the residents to continue practicing minimum health standards but keep calm.
“Maging mahinahon po tayo,” she said. “Nakita po namin na ang kaso ng Covid-19 dito sa Jaen ay galing po sa ibang bayan.”
During the lockdown, the provincial ang municipal governments provided food assistance to affected residence.
Major Erwin Ferry, municipal police chief, said they will continue to implement rules under community quarantine. The lockdown, he said, has been successful and orderly.
The lockdown was lifted Wednesday.
