THE Department of Health (DOH) in Northern Mindanao said it is currently tracing the persons who were with the 33-year-old woman from Camiguin, the newest Covid-19 patient in the region.
Dr. Ian Gonzales, head of DOH-Northern Mindanao’s Infectious Diseases cluster, said they are tracing those who were with the woman’s flight from Manila to Camiguin, especially those who got in close contact with her.
Gonzales allayed fears of the public, pointing out that only those who were one to two meters away from the patient have the chance of contracting the virus.
“We reiterate that the mode of transmission droplet man, meaning ang high risk kadtong 1-2 meters away sa pasyente. Dili pasabot nilabay siya sa Laguindingan nga sila na tanan atong itrace, kadtong kauban sa plane ug mga kauban niya, sila ang atong i-contact,” he said.
Gonzales said the patient is under home quarantine in her residence in Mahinog, Camiguin. He said she is not admitted since the patient only has mild symptoms.
However, City Mayor Oscar Moreno said if the patient needs to be transported to Cagayan de Oro for admission at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC), he will allow it.
“Tanan mahadlok but we have a responsibility to fulfill, NMMC is the Covid referral hospital so if need arises nga kinahanglan madala diri, appropriate protocols will be followed, dili nato babagan, importante atimanon. During good times, we say we are the hospital care center, sa bad times, we forget our duty,” he added.
The Covid-19 patient from Camiguin has a history of travel to Manila last March 8 and arrived in Camiguin on March 14. She was placed under a mandatory 14-day home quarantine.
But on March 17, the patient, with a pre-existing case of asthma, experienced mild symptoms of colds and sore throat.
The patient is under strict home quarantine and is being closely monitored by the Provincial Health Office and Rural Health Unit personnel.