Mabalacat hospital confirms first Covid-19 patient death

MABALACAT CITY -- The St. Raphael Foundation and Medical Center, Inc. (SRFMCI) confirmed Tuesday, March 31, that a 93-year-old patient from Bamban, Tarlac, who tested positive for Covid-19, died in the hospital last March 29.

In its advisory dated March 31, the medical center stated that on March 19, the patient was admitted as patient under investigation (PUI) due to moderate lower respiratory symptoms.

Examination by the Department of Health (DOH) Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU) staff was requested and done, according to the hospital management.

On March 28, the hospital was informed that the patient tested positive of the coronavirus and expired on March 29 due to complications.

The SRFMCI said the patient’s remains were cremated in Tarlac City on the same day.

The patient was later identified in news reports as Pablo Santos Jr., World War II guerilla from the said Tarlac town.

The patient’s relatives, attending medical, nursing and other ancillary staff who were posibly exposed have been notifies and requested to undergo self quarantine, according to the hospital.

Hospital areas utilized for the patient were properly disinfected using DOH protocols, it added.

“The hospital management and its healthcare frontliners are doing everything necessary based on DOH guidelines to prevent further transmission of the virus. The hospital’s Covid 9 related policies are being implemented to protect the other patients, their relatives and the entire hospital employees,” the medical center stated.

The medical also assured that it continues to perform its mission of providing medical care to the communities it serves.

“Let us help one another by being compliant with the policies implemented by the national government agencies, DOH, and the local government of Mabalacat City in our fight against the Covid 19 crisis. Stay home and pray with our families,” the St. Raphael management added.