TUGUEGARAO CITY – The Department of Health (DOH)-Cagayan Valley Center for Health Development (CVCHD) confirmed Sunday Cagayan Valley Region’s first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positive patient.
In its statement released on Saturday evening, DOH-DCHD confirmed that a 44-year-old Filipino, identified only as PH275, tested positive for COVID-19 after her laboratory results was confirmed by the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM).
Family of PH275, Tuguegarao’s first COVID-19 patient is now on strict home quarantine.
The DOH-CVCHD, however, assured the public that all necessary containment measures were being implemented to prevent local transmission of the virus.
The confirmed case arrived in Tuguegarao who came fromMetro Manila then to Tuguegarao City on March 11.
The patient first sought consultation at a local health facility due to coughs, and was immediately isolated on March 14. He was transferred and admitted for isolation and testing to a referral hospital last March 14, 2020. He is currently in stable condition.
It said the DOH was closely coordinating the concerned local government unit (LGU), and the hospital where the patient was admitted for concerted actions on identifying persons who could have had interaction with the confirmed case, strengthening infection prevention and control protocols and for further developments arising from this health event.
The Contact Tracing Team of the Department of Health DCHD is already in close coordination with the LGU concerned. Persons who will be identified to have close interaction with the confirmed case will be interviewed and assessed for proper management.
DOH 2 Regional Director Dr. Leticia T. Cabrera said she was requesting those who will be identified as close contacts to the confirmed case to fully cooperate and provide necessary information for proper management and facilitation.
“Being personally responsible in order to control COVID-19 is an essential action in this challenging situation.” she said,
Cabrera said they assured the public that the DOH was on top of the situation as they have activated an Incident Command System and deployed Rapid Response Team for appropriate management, including increased infection control, case management, and containment to prevent the spread of the virus.
“We urge the public to stay calm and remain vigilant at all times. Let us continue to practice proper handwashing, social distancing, and cough etiquette. We also appeal to everyone to refrain from sharing unverified information and obtain information only from verified sources such as the Department of Health official website and social media accounts. Let us continue doing our part in containing the disease,” she said.
As of this writing, the region has already recorded 117 PUIs and 454 PUMs in Region 02, says DOH Region 02 Officials.
