Kin of deceased PUM in Masbate town placed under watch

LEGAZPI CITY –– The mayor of Cataingan town in Masbate province said on Friday night that the entire household of the patient considered a person under monitoring (PUM) for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was placed under watch, according to a recommendation by the Rural Health Unit.

Cataingan Mayor Felipe Cabataña also clarified that he did not say that the PUM was positive for COVID-19, contrary to reports circulating on social media of him making the confirmation over the radio.

The radio announcement, however, was shared on social media several times with unverified claims on the state of the PUM’s death.

Cabataña said the deceased, a senior citizen, was a resident returnee from the National Capital Region, who arrived around the second week of March, and was considered a PUM.

Before the death, the patient was confined at the Muntinlupa Hospital, which issued a certificate of confinement dated March 7.

The deceased was diagnosed with acute kidney injury, secondary to chronic kidney disease, gouty nephropathy secondary to chronic disease with a moderate risk of community-acquired pneumonia.

Meanwhile, the RHU reported a child relative of the deceased to be having flu-like symptoms and diarrhea. The child shared residence with the deceased.

The whole household is now considered PUMs under the watch of the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team while on quarantine.

“There is a probability that the person may have been infected with COVID-19,” Cabataña said.

However, due to the lack of test kits in the province, they could not have known whether the deceased was positive of the virus or not.

LZB