THE number of close contacts of the 26-year-old male who was tested positive for the new virus that causes the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has doubled from 34 to 60 as of May 26.
The 60 close contacts are the 34 co-passengers of the 26-year-old man, personnel of the ship, and some 25 health care workers and responders who managed the new arrivals upon their arrival at the city seaport.
CHO epidemiologist Dr. Joselito Retuya said Tuesday, May 26, that of the 60 close contacts, 12 have already been swabbed. Nine of the 12 are residents of Cagayan de Oro.
Retuya said two of the close contacts from Cagayan de Oro have shown symptoms, adding that they have started treating them with antibiotics.
As for the ship that the 26-year-old man and his co-passengers rode going back to the city, Retuya said they already continued their operations.
"Nagpadayon sila sa ilang operation because ang atong risk assessment sa ilaha, they were wearing masks, gloves when they were distributing tubig sa mga pasahero," Retuya said.
Meanwhile, three patients at Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) tested negative for Sars-CoV-2, which caused Covid-19, on Tuesday.
Tested negative are a 30-year-old male from Barangay Camaman-an, a 74-year-old from Barangay Camaman-an, and an 11-month-old male from outside Cagayan de Oro who was admitted due to pediatric community-acquired pneumonia.
The CHO is also monitoring the close contacts of Covid suspects admitted to various hospitals in Cagayan de Oro.
Emergency Operation Center head Lorraine Nery said from March 14 to May 25, the CHO has recorded a total of 709 close contacts, which also include the close contacts of the 26-year-old coronavirus-positive man.
Of the 709 individuals, 141 of them are ongoing the 14-day quarantine.