A 7-year-old girl tested positive on Tuesday for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), days after she died in a La Union hospital.

San Fabian, Pangasinan Mayor Constante Agbayani said in a statement that the girl, who lived in Barangay Inmalog Sur here, was confined at the La Union Medical Center on March 26 and was tested for COVID-19.

The girl died on the same day due to "hypovolemic shock" caused by "acute Gastroenteritis and severe dehydration," Agbayani said.

On March 31, the deceased patient tested positive for COVID-19.

According to Agbayani, the girl was earlier brought to a rural health center due to diarrhea, nausea and fever. She was sent home later.

Local officials are looking into the possibility the girl was infected by two relatives who came from Metro Manila and Nueva Vizcaya, two areas hit by COVID-19.

“Iyong uncle niya daw na dalawa, may galing Vizcaya, may galing Manila. Iyong isa, nakipaglamay pa daw sa COVID-19 victim na namatay. Nakipaglamay pa daw sa Manila, kaya sila siguro carrier iyon, natamaan iyong bata. Kasi may sakit, trini-trace namin iyong history, hindi naman umaalis iyong bata," Agbayani said in an interview.

The girl's parents are farmers in Inmalog Sur.

The COVID-19 victim was buried immediately, and disinfection procedures were implemented in her house. Total lockdown was also imposed in Inmalog Sur and nearby areas.

Contact tracing was also conducted by local officials.

As of Wednesday, 23 cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Pangasinan with 7 deaths, including the girl.