A 67-YEAR-OLD man, Mabalacat City’s first Covid 19 patient, is now in stable condition, local health officials said.

The patient, a resident of Barangay Mabiga, was admitted last March 17 in a private hospital in nearby Magalang town due to respiratory symptoms. He was discharged from the hospital last March 25.

The Mabalacat City Covid-19 Rapid Response Team (MCRRT) and the concerned Barangay Health Responce Team (BHERT) have assured the public all close contact of the patient had been identified and are now under a 14-day home quarantine as mandated by the Department of Health (DOH) protocol.

“The City Health Office (CHO) confirms circulating reports regarding a Covid-19 positive patient,” the advisory added.

On April 2, 2020, the CHO received a copy of the situational report from the DOH -- Central Luzon Center for Health and Development confirming the city’s first corona virus case.

The local government said it is closely working with the DOH to limit the spread of Covid-19 in the city.

The CHO advised the residents to follow the quarantine; practice social distancing, frequent hand washing and sanitizing, and cough etiquette.

“Let us do our part and help one another by being compliant with the policies of the government and the DOH,” the CHO stated.

As of April 2, the city has 599 persons under monitoring (PUMs), and six persons under investigation (PUIs). Some 328 PUMs and PUIs completed the mandatory 14-day quarantine.