Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 11) - Despite the ever-rising number of COVID-19 cases nationwide, a northern province may now be free of the viral disease following the recovery of two patients.

In a social media post on Saturday, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte announced that its first two COVID-19 positive patients have now tested negative for the disease on both of their repeat swab tests.

According to the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, the two COVID-19 patients have recovered and met the discharge criteria set by the Department of Health.

"They are asymptomatic, in stable condition and had two consecutive sets of negative test results from novel coronavirus as released by Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center," the hospital said in a statement.

The provincial government directed local government units to prepare isolation areas for the mandatory 14-day quarantine, as the two patients will be discharged from the medical institution.

"With no new confirmed transmission of COVID-19 in almost two weeks since the province's first cases, we have flattened the curve and have so far contained the virus," the provincial government of Ilocos Norte said in a statement.

Despite the two recoveries, the provincial government urged citizens to stay at home, exercise at least 30 minutes a day, and observe maximum social distancing at all times.