By Gilbert Felongco
MALOLOS CITY – The Bulacan Provincial Health Office (PHO) disputed the inclusion of the province as among those with reported cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
This after President Duterte, in his speech declaring a State of Public Health Emergency on Monday, mentioned Santa Maria, Bulacan as among the areas with known cases of COVID-19.
Bulacan PHO Chief Dra. Joy Gomez said they were unaware that there was any confirmed COVID-19 case in the municipality.
According to Gomez, what Bulacan health authorities have knowledge of were two suspected cases of COVID-19 infection – a person under investigation and a person under monitoring – in Sta. Maria, Bulacan.
And both have already been cleared, Gomez noted.
On Tuesday, classes in all levels in Bulacan were ordered suspended by Governor Daniel Fernando as part of preventive measures against COVID-19, and in consonance with Duterte’s nationwide declaration of a Public Health Emergency.
Along with the order, the governor enjoined students to stay at home. “Hinihiling ko din po na maging mahinahon at patuloy na mag-ingat ang lahat, (I also ask the people to remain calm and continue observing measures to prevent the spread of the virus),” Fernando said.
The President issued Proclamation No. 922 on Monday - declaring a state of public health emergency throughout the country due to COVID-19 threat.
The directive also followed reports that new cases of the viral respiratory illness have been discovered in Santa Maria in addition to those in West Crame in San Juan and cases in Project 6, Quezon City that brought the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 24.