RESIDENTS of nearby municipalities from Macabebe town were alarmed after the second coronavirus disease (Covid-19) positive patient in this town was reported missing.
On Tuesday afternoon, March 31, the local government of Macabebe confirmed its second case of Covid-19, codenamed MC#2, who is a 79-year-old male from Barangay San Jose.
According to the official statement of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), the patient returned to the country from Hawaii, US on March 3 but went straight to Apalit town, and only came home in this town the following day.
After eight days, the patient went for a medical check-up in a private hospital in the City of San Fernando after reportedly experiencing respiratory problem, but he refused confinement and insisted on home medications.
Seven days later, the patient manifested respiratory-like symptoms and went to a private hospital in Apalit town. The hospital advised him to transfer to Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital after identifying his symptoms as Covid-like.
The patient again refused treatment and insisted on Home Against Medical Advice practice.
Upon learning the said incident, the IATF immediately alerted checkpoints within their jurisdiction to refuse entry for the patient.
No checkpoints were reported seeing the patient until Tuesday, March 31, and was declared missing by the IATF.
On March 30, the test result of the patient came back positive for Covid-19 virus.
Residents of nearby town, especially of Apalit where he reportedly initially stayed, fear that the patient is going around the community and causing the spread of virus.
They are now calling on the concerned government officials to immediately locate the patient and put him on proper medication.