MASANTOL town is coronavirus disease (Covid-19)-free no more, as it recorded its first confirmed case on Monday, August 10.

"After being Covid-19-free for the whole stretch of the community quarantine, we have now registered our first confirmed case. Despite all of the precautions that we've done, the virus still managed to infect one of our kabalens," said Mayor Danilo Guintu.

He said the patient, codenamed Case 1, is a 41-year-old male from Barangay Bebe Anac and is among the close contacts of the positive patient from Alabang who visited the municipality recently.

The mayor said seven individuals who were exposed to the coronavirus-positive visitor underwent RT-PCR testing and Case 1's results that came back positive on Saturday.

Although asymptomatic, Guintu said the patient was brought to the New Clark City for isolation and monitoring until he recovers from the disease.

Meanwhile, Guintu ordered a 48-hour lockdown in Barangay Bebe Anac and its adjacent villages of Cambasi and Sta. Cruz starting Tuesday noon, August 11, to allow comprehensive contact tracing.

As of Tuesday morning, August 11, the mayor said eight individuals were already identified by the Municipal Health Office as close contacts of Case 1.

Guintu asked for the cooperation of the residents, especially those from the barangays under lockdown, as the local government implement measures to prevent the further spread of the virus.

"We've been Covid-19-free ever since the virus was detected. We may have one positive case now, but we can still suppress the virus with our strategic planning, unity and continuous prayers to God," he said.

The new case in Masantol officially made all Pampanga cities and municipalities infected by the dreaded virus.