Active case finding by LGU-P’sinan yields 0.65% positivity rate

According to Provincial Health Officer Anna Maria Teresa De Guzman, the number can be attributed to the strategy applied by the provincial government which is the “active case finding.”

“Minabuti ng provincial government na mag-active case finding. Sinusuyod po natin ang buong probinsya. Sinusuri ang mga mild PUIs and PUMs managed by the LGUs,” Dr. De Guzman said as she added that on the earlier stage of the pandemic, the patients are the ones being sent to hospitals.

For the second wave of the expanded mass testing, the provincial government targeted the frontline hospital workers, local health officers (doctors, nurses, midwives, ambulance drivers), PNP personnel, risk reduction staff, Bureau of Fire Protection personnel among others.

The provincial government are still waiting for the results, however.

The City of Dagupan and the Municipality of Sual are also conducting mass testing and yielded 14 and 4 cases, respectively. Of the 14 cases in Dagupan City, 12 are from the chartered city and two from San Fabian and San Carlos City.

As disclosed by the provincial health officer, all positive Covid-19 cases are “asymptomatic” which means that they manifested no symptoms of the virus. Contact tracing was immediately held right after.

Based on the latest report of the Provincial Health Office, there are a total of 69 positive cases as of June 7. Of the number, 47 are from different towns and three cities of the province while 22 are from Dagupan, a chartered city.
As such, the new cases which rose to 10 last weekend came from the following: Sual-4; Agno-4; Agno-1; and Alaminos City-1. Most of the confirmed positives are frontliners and drivers of ambulance and rescue vehicles.

Although the mass testing yielded less than 1percent positivity rate, Governor Amado I. Espino III said that the provincial government cannot be complacent over the result.

“Binibilinan po natin ang ating mga kababayan na mag-ingat pa rin po tayo dahil di pa po tapos ang problema sa laban natin dito sa virus na ito,” he said as he added that inasmuch as the provincial government is finding ways on how to properly address the current situation, other projects and activities for health are on deck especially during the onset of rainy season when flu and dengue are prevalent.

In addition, Gov. Espino disclosed that the economic team of the provincial government is currently contemplating on more livelihood opportunities for Pangasinenses to augment their income.

“Nagmi-meeting ang economic team ng provincial government para pag-usapan ang augmentation sa mga LGUs para naman magkaroon man lang ng konting kita ang mga kababayan natin sa panahon ng Covid-19,” he disclosed.

The economic team is composed of various offices in the provincial government notably the Provincial Treasurer’s Office, Provincial Budget Office, Provincial Accountant’s Office, Provincial Planning and Development Office, Provincial Engineering Office, Provincial Agriculturist Office, Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office, Provincial Population, Cooperative and Livelihood Development Office, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Provincial Assessment Office, Provincial Veterinarian’s Office, Provincial Employment Services Office.

To fine-tune the socio-economic recovery plan for Pangasinan to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, series of earlier meetings facilitated by Provincial Administrator Nimrod S. Camba and PPDO Chief Benita Pizarro were conducted. (Ruby R. Bernardino)