Iloilo, Pangasinan town on lockdown

MANILA, Philippines — Bayambang town in Pangasinan will be shut down after midnight today following the death of one of its residents died due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) yesterday.

The patient, who died at the Lung Center of the Philippines, was tested early this month, but the result was released only yesterday.

“No one is allowed to enter or exit the municipality until March 28 or until further notice,” the local government said in a post on Facebook.

The Department of Health in coordination with the town’s rural health unit is monitoring those who had contact with the fatality.

Authorities said residents of Barangay Bical Norte, where another COVID-19 case was recorded, were asked to go on self-quarantine. 

The barangay will be sanitized, the municipal government said.

In Iloilo, Gov. Arthur Defensor  issued an executive order (EO) placing the province under enhanced community quarantine yesterday.

Under the EO, movement of people shall be limited to accessing basic necessities and health needs.

As a precautionary measure against COVID-19, masses in the archdiocese of Palo, Leyte were suspended starting yesterday.

Archbishop John Du said priests should celebrate mass through online platforms.

Du called on the faithful “to attend livestream masses” with “proper decorum.” 

The diocese of Bayombong, which has jurisdiction over Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino, also suspended all religious activities.

 “As COVID-19 deaths rise, we cannot compromise our safety. Prevention is better than cure,” Bishop Jose Elmer Mangalinao said in a letter to parish priests and church leaders.