A TODDLER in Barangay Ilaya, Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro has been found positive for the novel coronavirus, becoming the first case in the province and the youngest patient in the Philippines, the provincial governor said.
The young girl, who is one year and nine months old, traveled to Alabang from March 5 to March 12, according to Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito "Bonz" Dolor.
A confirmatory test has been conducted, he added.
“Dahil siya ay napakabata pa at upang siguraduhin pang lalo humiling ako sa DOH na muling ipasuri (confirmatory test) ang kanyang specimen at ito naman ay kagyat na pinagbigyan,” Dolor said in a Facebook post Friday, March 27, 2020.
Tests were also conducted on the girl’s guardians while the Provincial Health Office and the Calapan City Health Office are conducting contact tracing.
Seven other patients were found negative, Dolor said. Five other patients are still awaiting their test results.
Of the seven persons who were found negative, four are male with ages ranging from 37 to 80 years old while three are female, aged 57 to 84 years old.
Oriental Mindoro has imposed border controls and ordered residents to comply with strict quarantine rules. A liquor ban has also imposed.
As of 4 p.m. Thursday, March 26, the Department of Health said there are 707 confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in the country, with 45 mortalities. Twenty-eight patients have recovered.
Globally, the World Health Organization said the new coronavirus has infected 462,684 people as of March 26.
The death toll has surpassed 20,000. As of March 26, 20,834 persons have died from the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). (MVI/SunStar Philippines)