Governor Aurelio Umali announced on Monday that there are nine new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the province, bringing the total number of those afflicted to 15.

Umali, in his briefing via live stream, said that most of the new Covid-19 cases in the province were acquired through local transmission.

“For the first time, the local transmission of Covid-19 was registered in the province. Local transmission is something that we are really afraid of because the virus might spread rapidly. That is why, it is very important to stay home,” he said.

Out of the new Covid-19 cases in the province, four patients are from Gapan City. Three are doctors and one is a nurse. Two patients are in Cabanatuan City, one is also a doctor and the other one has travel history to France. One is from Laur town with travel history to Manila. Another patient is in San Antonio, also with travel history to Manila, and one in Licab town who was first admitted at the Chinese General Hospital.

As of Monday, records from the Nueva Ecija Task Force on Covid-19 showed that out of 271 patients under investigation (PUIs), 41 were already discharged and six died. On the other hand, 16,618 persons under monitoring (PUMs) are still undergoing the 14-day quarantine.

“By staying at home, we are doing a lot in curbing the rising number of Covid-19 in our province. Please be serious in our call to stay home,” Umali said.

Meanwhile, the implementation of quarantine checkpoints here received a big boost with 16 new pick-up trucks from the city government.

Brig. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, director of the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO 3) who received on Saturday the Nissan Navara patrol cars from Mayor Myca Elizabeth Vergara, described the donation as timely.

Sermonia, who was also with Col. Leon Victor Rosete, Nueva Ecija police director, said 24 more mobile patrol cars from the Philippine National Police are on their way to the province. (PNA)