Norwegian man in Dipolog City tests positive for Covid-19

PAGADIAN CITY – A Norwegian tourist who stayed for 2 months in Dipolog City in southern Philippines has been tested positive for the deadly novel coronavirus or Covid-19 in Manila.

The foreigner arrived on March 2 and stayed in the village of Sicayab two weeks before the local government imposed a strict community quarantine because of the pandemic. But he was rushed to a private hospital in Dipolog on April 26 due to chest pain, according to the provincial and city task forces on Covid-19.

He was eventually airlifted to Manila on May 2 and as part of the hospital protocol, the patient was swabbed prior to any medical procedure and result of the test released on May 5 showed him positive for Covid-19.

The foreigner is the first Covid-19 case in Dipolog City.

Following established protocols, the Covid-19 task force in Dipolog managed to trace and isolate persons who were in close and sustained contact with the foreigner, including health care workers in the private hospital where he was admitted and are all under 14-day quarantine. They will also be swabbed using rapid testing kit to determine the presence of contagion in their body.

Quarantine control points were also put up in the village and manned by the police to restrict unnecessary movement of people in the community.

Photo from the Mayor Darel Dexter Uy Facebook page.

“We would like to assure the people of Dipolog City that we are taking measures to ensure that the situation is under control. The provincial and city governments have prepared isolation facilities for any eventuality that may arise. As always, we call on the public to please stay calm, do not panic, and strictly follow instructions from the local government, particularly our stay-at-home order, the imposition of stringent social and physical distancing measures, wearing of face masks and proper hygiene and health protocols,” said Mayor Darel Dexter Uy.

He also appealed to the public not to discriminate anyone and called on residents to pray for the safety of all. “This is not the time to bash, blame or discriminate anyone. Nobody would have wanted to be in this kind of situation. Let us continue to pray for God’s grace and blessings amidst the present crisis we are facing,” he said. (Zamboanga Post)

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