Another sitio (sub-village) in Barangay 23 San Matias has been placed under lockdown for contact tracing purposes after a resident tested positive for coronavirus.

Under Executive Order No. MMK-038 signed by Mayor Michael Keon on Sunday afternoon, Sitio Dungtal Proper will be closed for 72 hours.

The asymptomatic patient, referred to as IN-C86, is a 34-year-old female from San Matias village who traveled from Calanasan, Apayao. She is currently in isolation.

Last Saturday, the northern portion of Sitio 1 and 2 in Barangay 4 San Guillermo was also closed for a similar reason.

“For Laoag residents who are residing in the affected areas, I urged you to stay home and only go out if needed. Let us help one another and together, we heal as one,” Keon said in a statement.

As of this posting, major borders in Ilocos Norte are temporarily closed to locally stranded individuals to enable medical front-liners to cope with the rising cases of Covid-19 in the province.

Last Sunday, three new cases were recorded in Barangay 18, San Isidro, Pasuquin town for having been exposed to other coronavirus patients.

Local authorities assured the public that all Covid-19 patients, including suspect and probable cases admitted in government hospitals and quarantine facilities, are receiving proper treatment. (PNA)