THE FIRST two confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Davao City have been admitted to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) to prevent infecting other people after their results came out seven days after their samples were taken.
On Saturday evening, March 21, 2020, the Department of Health (DOH)-Davao Region, through their official Facebook page confirmed that a couple residing in Davao City tested positive, bringing the total number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the region to three. The result was released 12 p.m. on Saturday. They were included in the 77 new cases of Covid-19 in the country.
In a radio interview with Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio at 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio Saturday, she said that based on the update provided by DOH, the couple has been requested to be admitted at the hospital.
Duterte-Carpio acknowledged the frustration of the Dabawenyos after learning that the confirmed cases were out of the hospital. The city mayor further explained that since they were previously considered as Patients under Investigation (PUI) they were allowed to go home by the doctor provided that they will self-quarantine while waiting for the result.
“Kaganiha ang update sa Department of Health is that musulod na sa hospital ang duha ka Covid-19 patients and ang ilang mga anak sa hospital (Based on the update of DOH, the two Covid-19 cases will be admitted at the hospital together with their children),” Duterte-Carpio said.
She, however, disagrees with the decision of DOH to confine the patient in the hospital.
“Ako sa tinood lang dili gyud ko mu-agree ana kay naka quarantine naman sila sa ilang balay. Ato nalang buhaton ato was butangan ug police para dili kagawas. Pero ang gusto sa mga doctor dalahon sa hospital. Gidala nila ang positive sa hospital nalang hinoon (To be honest, I disagree on admitting the Covid-19 patients because they were already quarantined at their home. What we could have done is deploy policemen to ensure that they will not go outside. But the Doctors brought the patients to the hospital instead),” Duterte-Carpio.
SPMC is the only identified Covid-19 hospital in Davao City.
DOH-Davao Region did not give further details on the profile of the victims and their specific address. They only provided their travel history and their health condition.
One of the patients, tagged as PH262 is a 47-year-old male, who resides in Davao City, has a history of travel in Metro Manila. He arrived in Davao City last March 6, 2020. Based on the data, his onset of symptoms such as colds started March 13, 2020.
On the other hand, the wife of PH262, tagged as PH263, 47 has likewise history of travel to Metro Manila and arrived in Davao City last March 6. The onset of her symptoms, colds and body malaise began on March 9.
The specimen collection of the couple was done at SPMC last March 13, and was sent to Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) on the same day.
“As of today (March 21), both are asymptomatic and are on strict home quarantine,” DOH-Davao Region said, adding that the couple will undergo another testing.
A patient will only be declared as cleared from the infectious respiratory disease if they get two negative test results that are 38 hours apart.
Meanwhile, DOH-Davao Region clarified that two of the five PUIs who died tested negative to Covid-19. They are the 71-year old PUI who is from Matanao, Davao del Sur who died of Septic Shock secondary to generalized Peritonitis secondary to Perforated Peptic Ulcer last March 15, 2020 in Southern Philippines Medical Center and the 68-year old Korean National who resided at Panabo, Davao del Sur.
They are still waiting for the confirmation result of the other PUIs who perished.
As of 12 p.m. on March 22, the number of PUI in Davao Region climbed to 104 but only 58 were admitted, 41 were discharged, and five died. For the persons under monitoring, it ballooned to 8,285 but 1,447 of the persons have been cleared while 6,837 are under observation.