WITH the new Covid-19 cases recorded in the town of Mankayan in Benguet, the local government unit said the lockdown inside the mining camp will be extended until December 20.

Mayor Frenzel Ayong said the lockdown of the mining camp in Barangay Paco and Sitio Marivic in Barangay Sapid is extended until midnight of December 20, adding that this may be extended depending on the situation in the site.

Forty new positive cases were recorded Monday, December 7, including the first two cases recorded in Barangay Bulalacao.

As of Wednesday, December 9, of the 298 active cases in the town, the 122 patients have been isolated at the Lepanto National High School, 37 patients admitted in Lepanto Elementary School, 44 patients in Marivic Elementary School, 43 currently admitted at the Mankayan Temporary Treatment and Monitory Facility, 10 in LCMC hospital, four in Carantes Isolation Facility, six in home isolation, one each in PNP and Government Employee Isolation Facility, and 27 individuals remain for verification.

Ayong said that inside the mining camp, people are required to stay at home with only one family member is allowed to buy basic necessities.

Meanwhile, the Bases and Conversion Development personnel that coordinated by the Office of the Civil Defense-Cordillera will arrive in Mankayan next week for mass testing within the mining camp and other targeted surrounding areas.

In Benguet province, the total active cases are mostly recorded in Mankayan, followed by 145 active cases in La Trinidad, 49 in Tuba, and 25 in Itogon.