March 29, 2024

MANKAYAN, Benguet – Issuance of travel permits here except for medical reasons has been temporarily suspended and all are advised to avoid unnecessary travel outside the municipality while the individuals who had contact with the town’s four new COVID-19 cases are being traced.
Mayor Frenzel Ayong said the new cases came out as a result of contact tracing and initial swab results of a close contact of a minor who tested positive of the Covid-19 in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.
The new cases include a 46-year old female from Pabileng, Barangay Tabio; a 45-year old male residing at the Mankayan sub-office in Barangay Guinaoang; a 28-year old male from Matiked, Barangay Paco; and a 55-year old male from Busigan, Barangay Balili. 
They were brought to the Benguet General Hospital in La Trinidad on Aug. 11 while lockdown in their areas of residence was ordered effective evening of Aug. 10 until further notice.
Ayong said they were notified by the Vigan City LGU about a seven-year old child who came from Mankayan and tested positive for Covid-19.
The child, with her family, arrived in Vigan from Baguio City on July 24 but their travel was uncoordinated. The family was immediately quarantined when barangay personnel in Vigan were notified, so they had no substantial contacts with other people.
The minor, with his family from Barangay Paco went to the Mankayan town plaza on July 20 to apply for health certificates and travel documents. The family travelled to Vigan on July 23. 
Out of 78 individuals initially contact traced four were positive for Covid-19.
The issuance of travel permits at the Poblacion plaza will resume on Aug. 18. – Redjie M. Cawis