THE ZAMBOANGA del Sur government on Monday confirmed two cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the province.
In a press conference held at the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) headquarters at barangay Dao, Dr. Anatalio Cagampang, Jr., chief of Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center (ZDSMC) identified the COVID-19 patients as patient No. 5, is 52 year-old male from the municipality of Labangan and patient no. 7, a 62 year-old female from Pagadian City.
Cagampang said patient no. 5 was admitted on March 17 at an ZDSMC isolation area and manifested symptoms of cough, colds and soar throat, and fever; while patient no. 7 who was admitted on March 17 manifested only symptoms of cough, colds and sore throat.
He said the patients were tested positive after their throat swabs were submitted and tested by the Regional Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Manila.
Cagampang said having confirmed cases of COVID-19 poses a serious problem in our province.
“This is a serious problem. We need your help by following the executive order of our local chief executive to restrict the movement of people and goods in order to prevent the possible entry and spread of COVID-19. Observe proper hygiene and stay at home,” Cagampang admonished.
Cagampang said the patients are both physically and clinically stable. "They can talk, walk, and eat while inside the isolation area,” he announced.
The Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) has recorded seven (7) persons under investigation (PUIs), two of which were tested positive, while the swab test samples of remaining 5 PUIs were extracted and submitted to RITM for testing.
Meanwhile, Governor Victor Yu was saddened upon hearing the news that the province has recorded 2 confirmed cases on COVID-19 despite the strict precautionary measures implemented in the local government units (LGUs).
In order not to worsen the situation, Yu urged the public to strictly observe the quarantine procedures that is being implemented by the Department of Health (DOH).
“Gi-awhag nako ang katawhan nga strikto nga motuman sa quarantine procedures nga gipatuman sa DOH aron dili mosamut ka delikado ang atong kahimtang. Nagtuo ako nga kung gamay ra ang atong kaso sa COVID mas dali nato masulbad ang problema,” Yu appealed.
(I encouraged the public to strictly follow the quarantine procedures implemented by the DOH in order that the situation will not worsen. I believe that if we have less COVID cases, we can immediately solve the problem.)
Yu said the provincial government is always finding ways on how to improve the stressful situation by strictly implementing the enhance community quarantine (ECQ) to limit the movement of people and to conduct series of meetings with the Task Force.
Dr. Robert Capatoy, spokesperson of Provincial Task Force on COVID-19 said the patients were constantly monitored daily by the team of doctors to determine the patients’ general state of health and resistance to infection while inside the isolation area.
Capatoy said that these COVID-19 positive patients have a chance to improve and recover.
He, however appealed to the public not to discriminate the patients saying that COVID-19 is not a reason to deny care to a patient and it can lead to a social stigma.
“To stop the COVID-19 from spreading, we continue to observe social distancing, stay at home, be calm and do not panic,” Capatoy concluded.(By Gideon C. Corgue)
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