DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Davao Region recorded its first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); a 21-year-old woman who traveled from the United Kingdom.
The Department of Health (DOH) Davao Region, in a press release, revealed that the patient identified as PH130 is currently admitted in Davao Regional Medical Center tested positive of COVID-19.Her laboratory result was confirmed by the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM).
The health department said PH130 “arrived in the Philippines from the United Kingdom with lay-over via Doha, Qatar to Manila then to Davao on February 29.”
“The patient first sought consultation to a local health facility due to cough and was immediately isolated on March 9, 2020. She was transferred and admitted for isolation and testing to a referral hospital last March 10, 2020. She is currently in stable condition,” the DOH-Davao Region said.
The DOH, however, assured the public that “all necessary containment measures are being implemented to prevent local transmission of the virus.”
“The DOH is now closely coordinating with the concerned Local Government Unit and the hospital where the patient is admitted, for concerted actions on identifying persons who had interaction with the confirmed case. Persons who will be identified to have close interaction with the confirmed case will be interviewed and assessed for proper management,” it added.
“We request those who will be identified as close contacts to the confirmed case to fully cooperate and provide necessary information for proper management and facilitation. Being personally responsible in order to control COVID-19 is an essential action in this challenging situation,” DOH Regional Director Annabelle Yumang said.
On Sunday evening, Tagum City Allan Rellon and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio ordered a partial lockdown on the two neighbouring cities in the region.
In their joint statement, the two city mayors said there’s “a need immediately to be aggressive and proactive on the impending spread of Covid-19 in Davao Region.”
According to Duterte-Carpio’s Executive Order No. 11, implementing a partial lockdown in Lasang checkpoint in Davao City, public and private vehicles traveling from Tagum City are prohibited from entering Davao City.
The EO also states that after 24 hours from its effectivity, no vehicle (public or private) that came from Tagum City will be allowed to pass through Davao City.
There will also be an inspection of IDs for workers working in Davao City but have to go home outside the city; however, those who resides in Tagum City will not be allowed to enter.
Supply chain vehicles/delivery vehicles and emergency vehicles are allowed to enter Davao City but drivers and passengers will still be subjected to temperature check.
Patients needing dialysis, chemotherapy, rehabilitation and other similar services of any Davao hospitals must show proof(receipts,doctor’s request, medical certificate, and other proof) of this medical service that they are receiving.
Both Davao City and Tagum City are currently under community quarantine.
The DOH-Davao Region reported that twenty-nine (29) patients were already discharged, while twenty-one (21) patients under investigation (PUIs) are currently admitted in two government hospitals in the region.
Meanwhile, 25 PUIs have already tested negative for COVID-19. There are still 13 cases awaiting results from the RITM while seven samples are still for sending to the RITM. (davaotoday.com)
