Taguig gov’t, hospital confirm local coronavirus case in PH

MANILA, Philippines — The Taguig City government and the St. Luke’s Medical Center – Global City have confirmed Saturday one of the local cases of coronavirus disease in the country a day after the Department of Health (DOH) reported that two Filipinos have been infected by the deadly disease.

In a statement, the Office of Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano said the coronavirus patient is an employee of the consultancy firm Deloitte Philippines.

“We can confirm that the case mentioned in the Department of Health press conference is that of the coronavirus (COVID-19) case in the City of Taguig,” read the statement.

“The individual is employed at Deloitte Philippines located at the Net Lima Plaza in Bonifacio Global City,” it added.

UPDATE ON NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)#SafeCity#HealthyCity#ilovetaguig pic.twitter.com/C6fs1VOrUN

— I Love Taguig (@IloveTaguig1) March 7, 2020

The Taguig Mayor’s office also disclosed that the patient sought treatment and was put under surveillance by the Taguig City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CEDSU) on March 4. The patient was admitted to the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) on March 5.

Meanwhile, the Taguig-based St. Luke’s Medical Center – Global City also revealed that they had treated a patient that tested positive for the COVID-19.

“St. Luke’s Medical Center – Global City was able to identify, isolate and screen a patient at the isolation room located outside the emergency wing who turned out positive for the COVID-19,” read the statement.

The hospital also admitted that it helped facilitate the transfer of the patient to the RITM in Muntinlupa City.

The hospital’s management also assured the public that the patient was immediately identified as positive for the disease.

This means the “exposure was limited as the patient did not enter the main hospital premises and main emergency room,” the hospital management said.

Both the Taguig City government and  St. Luke’s Medical Center – Global City did not disclose the identity of the patient. It was also unclear if the patient mentioned was the 62-year-old Filipino (fifth coronavirus case) or the 48-year-old Filipino lawyer who flew-in from Japan.

Task Force

Meanwhile, Taguig  City also created a task force to handle information on COVID-19.

“The City government encourages everyone to source their information only from reliable channels and stay calm,” read the statement.

Taguig citizens who experience respiratory symptoms should seek immediate treatment and consultation with hospitals.

Edited by MUF