By Freddie Lazaro BATAC CITY, Ilocos Norte – The management of the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMHMC) has confirmed that two patients currently isolated in the hospital tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), based on laboratory results released by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). In a public advisory released by the hospital on March 31, the hospital management reported that the COVID-19 patients were in isolation, and were in stable condition. “Rest assured that our hospital is taking all the necessary precautionary and infection control measures to protect our patients, hospital and the community,” the hospital management said. “We urge the public anew to cooperate with the health authorities to make sure we contain the spread of this infection and to help us share and disseminate only validated and accurate data or information to prevent panic, confusion and misinformation,” MMMHMC said in the advisory. The hospital management also reiterated the residents to stay at home and observe personal distancing and personal hygiene. For his part, Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc said, in a press statement, that the two persons who tested with positive for COVID-19 were a 42-year-old male from Barangay Sungadan, Paoay town with no travel history; and a 49-year-old male from Barangay Magnuang, Batac, who had travels to Metro Manila. “We have already quarantined those who have been in contact with the 2 COVID·19 patients and we are in close contact with the Department of Health (DOH), Mayors, city/municipal health officers and barangay captains to further contact trace these two patients. We will also lock down the two barangays where these cases came from,” the governor said. He assured that the medical personnel in the province were all properly trained while the medical supplies in the hospitals in the province were sufficient. Meanwhile, Currimao town Mayor Edward Quilala released a statement confirming that one of the COVID 19 positive patients was a police officer of their town. As of March 31, the Ilocos Norte has recorded two COVID 19 positive cases; 2 Patients Under Investigation (PUIs), and 2,171 Persons Under Monitoring (PUMs).