ANGADANAN, Isabela, June 22 (PIA) - - - Mayor Joelle Mathea Panganiban here has ordered stricter implementation of the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) protocols after a 41-year-old male here was tested positive for COVID-19.

The patient tagged as 'Patient 41' is an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) and the first positive case in said town.

Panganiban said upon knowing of Patient 41's positive result, they immediately conducted contact tracing to about 15 individuals who were in close contact with him.

"While doing the contact tracing, I wrote to the Regional Inter-Agency task Force (RIATF) requesting for the possibility of declaring Brgy. San Vicente under lockdown. We also subjected the 15 individuals for PCR testing," the mayor said.

Panganiban ordered the General Services Office also the Municipal Social Welfare Office to prepare goods per household and per individual.

"Our request for the lockdown was granted while doing the contact tracing but good enough, all the 15 individuals were tested negative, so only Patient 41 was infected of the virus, and therefore, we immediately lifted the lockdown" the mayor said.

The patient is still positive of COVID-19 based on his third test but the mayor is optimistic that his next swab test will yield negative result.

"Now, we will be more strict in implementing the protocols, we will check the authenticity of their medical certificates and other documents and as a directive from the office of the governor, all OFWs and LSI going back to Isabela will undergo rapid testing before they go for either facility or home quarantine," the mayor said.

As of today, there are 80 individuals in the LGU-managed quarantine facility. Recently, three OFWs who arrived here were advised to observe home quarantine instead after their swab test results were negative.

"We advise the public to continue to stay at home, wear face mask and observe social distancing because we don't want for another positive case," Panganiban said. (GVB)