Baguio now probing after confirming COVID-19 carrier moved around city

BAGUIO CITY—A woman, who attended a seminar here following a trip to Japan, tested positive for the novel coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19), prompting health workers to trace her movement in the city, Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong said on Monday (Mar. 16).

The 24-year old patient is technically a COVID case in Paranaque City after she tested positive on Mar. 15, he said. The woman was checked at the San Juan de Dios Hospital for severe cough.

But she was billeted at a hotel here from Mar. 9-11 for the three-day conference. As early as February, Baguio officials canceled all seminars, conferences and activities that draw crowds to prevent the spread of the virus. It wasn’t clear how the conference pushed through despite the order to cancel all gatherings.

News about the COVID patient’s Baguio visit prompted the city epidemiologist to interview hotel staff and the Paranaque health office.

According to the probe, the woman traveled to Japan on February 16-25, but she was asymptomatic when she returned to the country.

Except for the occasional cough, she did not have fever which was how she passed thermal scans when she traveled to Baguio.

The hotel has been required to disinfect her room.

As of Saturday (Mar. 14), the Cordillera region has recorded its first confirmed COVID-19 patient, a seaman who resides in Abra province.

Edited by TSB