NEARLY a week since the coronavirus-positive patient escaped from an isolation facility on May 9, authorities have still no lead on the location of the patient, fearing possible contamination if she will not be found soon.
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Director Police Colonel Kirby John Kraft said Thursday, May 14, that since the woman sneaked out from Queensland isolation center, they still have no information on her whereabouts.
"The manhunt on the patient is still ongoing which is conducted by our tracker team," Kraft said.
He added that they have focused their search within the Badjao community near the shorelines, but the patient was not spotted in the area.
They have not also received a report from concerned citizens on a possible sighting of the woman.
Earlier, Barangay 23-C Wating Usman offered P5,000 reward money for individuals who can provide information on the whereabouts of the patient who was later identified as Arani Hajiba.
Hajiba is an asymptomatic coronavirus (Covid-19) positive patient. She is a resident of Purok 4, Isla Verde, Barangay 23-C in Davao City.
In a separate interview, Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) Chief Dr. Leopoldo Vega said considering the patient is positive for Covid-19, she can infect individuals near her. Thus, extreme precaution is advised for people who will find her.
A cartographic sketch has been posted by the City Government of Davao to fast-track her identification.
Meanwhile, SPMC medical professional staff chief Dr. Ricardo Audan said they already told the Department of Health (DOH)-Davao to put a police outpost at Queensland primarily at the back to enhance the security and prevent a similar incident.
Audan said they suggested to DOH to assign an interpreter from the same cultural community in isolation centers for better communication with the patients.
"Sa situation sa Badjao, I think we need to strategize like putting an interpreter to talk to them in case ma-bored sila sa pag quarantine kay murag culture shock na sa ilaha na naka isolate isa ra sa room (I think she experienced a culture shock when she was isolated in a separate room)," Audan said.
Patients who will escape from isolation facilities will face cases under Republic Act 11332, the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.
"If they escape they should remember carrier sila so they are not helping this crisis and the more they infect others," Audan said.