BONTOC. Mountain Province (PIA)–The Provincial Health Office reported on Wednesday the first two cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the province as it reiterated the advice to the public to adhere to the minim public health standards and to avoid non-essential travels.
The detected cases are both female and with travel history. The 19-year-old case from Abatan, Bauko has a travel history in Agoo, La Union and Baguio City while the 48-year-old from Caluttit, Bontoc has a travel history in Malate, Manila.
Lian Safilo, Disease Surveillance Officer of the Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, informed that both patients have been tagged as recovered. It was only reported now due to the long and meticulous process of genome sequencing.
The Bauko Rural Health Unit reported that their case is a student intern who hails from La Union. She was swabbed on January 3 and tagged as recovered on Jan. 14. Contact tracing was conducted to primary contacts of the patient.
For the case in Bontoc, the local government unit reported that she arrived in Bontoc on Christmas eve, and manifesting mild symptoms, immediately informed health authorities. She was isolated and swabbed on December 27. Contact tracing was conducted until the fourth generation.
As the initial Omicron cases have travel history, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Annie Grail Pekas appeals to the people in the province to avoid non-essential travels to prevent the further spread of the virus. She also reiterated public adherence to the minimum health standards as well as encouraged unvaccinated residents to get inoculated as added protection against COVID-19. **JDP/VJLT-PIA CAR;Mt. Province
