Aurora Governor Gerardo Noveras expressed serious alarm on Monday over the quick increase in the number of positive Covid-19 cases in the province just two weeks after a Dipaculao town official breached protocols.
As of October 26, there are now 56 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Aurora, 55 of whom are active cases, according to the Department of Health.
Aurora has the smallest number of Covid-19 cases in Central Luzon due to early lockdown protocols, with zero deaths to date. But the number quickly rose to double digits following the Dipaculao incident.
In a message to his constituents, Noveras said he was alarmed by development.
“Lubha na pong nakakabahala ang mabilis na pagdami ng ating mga kababayan na nagpositibo sa Covid-19 lalo na po sa bayan ng Dipaculao isang buwan na ang nakalilipas,” he said.
“Sa ganitong kalalagayan ng ating lalawigan buklurin sana tayo ng iisang layunin na pigilan ang lalo pang pagkalat ng virus at madamay pa ang mga bayan na sa ngayon ay hindi pa nakakapasok ang Covid-19,” Noveras said.
“At sa diwa ng iisang layuning ito ang bawat isa, ano man ang kanyang katatayuan sa pamayanang kinabibilangan, ay mayroong mahalagang tungkulin na dapat gampanan ito ay ang pagtalima sa panawagang magsuot ng face mask/face shield, physical distancing at pananatili sa bahay maliban kung mayroong mahalagang gagawin sa labas,” he said.
“Napakahalaga po ng mga bagay na ito lalong lalo na sa mga bayan at barangay na mayroong nagpositibo sa Covid-19 base sa opisyal na report ng mga kinauukulan,” Noveras said.
“Nananawagan din po ako sa lahat na huwag po sana nating pandirian ang ating mga kababayan na nagpositibo sa Covid-19 o nagkaroon ng close contact sa isang nagpositibo sapagkat ito ay makakadagdag pa sa bigat ng kanilang damdamin,” he added.
Last month, an official in the municipality of Dipaculao triggered panic in Aurora province after he allegedly broke health protocols by visiting a Nueva Ecija town with known Covid-19 cases several times and then went back to his official duties without going on self-quarantine.
As a result, at least nine people including the official’s close contacts later tested positive for the virus, prompting local officials to track down 11 other close contacts and locking down the affected barangay.
Many individuals were ordered to stay at home or 14 days while several others were quarantined in LGU facilities, Dipaculao officials said. But cases continued to rise in the town.