MABALACAT CITY -- Some 28 residents of Concepcion town, Tarlac province, who were identified as "close contacts" of six Covid-19 patients, have tested negative for the novel virus.

Concepcion Mayor Andy Lacson said that only one of the 28 persons directly exposed to the six patients of Santo Cristo tested positive for the virus.

"All of those 28 who were swab tested in our sports complex, these are the first generation, contact traced category A staying in our quarantine facility tested negative for Covid-19," the mayor said in Pampango.

Lacson said the patients who were cleared from the virus were issued "return to home order."

The 34-year-old asymptomatic patient from Barangay San Jose was taken to the town's quarantine facility in Lapaz, Tarlac, according to the local chief executive.

The local government is now waiting for the swab test results of at least nine individuals who underwent swab test at the Tarlac Provincial Hospital, Lacson said.

These nine persons, who are now under home quarantine, tested negative Wednesday afternoon, just before press time.

"Hopefully, these patients who are not manifesting any symptoms, did not infect other persons and their health condition will not get worse," Lacson said.