Digos’ first COVID-19 patient another one of thousands who’ve been to Davao City cockfight derby

BANSALAN, DAVAO DEL SUR—The Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) has confirmed the first coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) case in Digos City, a health official said.

Dr. Ronald Jumilla, Digos City health officer, said his office received the test results from RITM confirming that a 38-year-old man, earlier branded as presumptive positive by the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), is positive for COVID-19.

Jumilla said the city health office in the city received the RITM results on Monday (March 30) morning.

City officials had confirmed the patient to be among tens of thousands of people who had been to the cockfight derby at the New Matina Davao Gallera in Davao City last March 6-13. The gathering was a nightmare scene for health professionals as it provided fertile ground for the infection to spread and could be considered as a cluster of possible infections.

Jumilla said the patient was the first COVID-19 case in Digos City.

He has been confined in the isolation room of the SPMC and has been reported to be in stable condition.

The city government of Digos said in its bulletin board it had already started contact tracing persons who may have been exposed to the carrier.

Mayor Josef Fortich Cagas urged the public to stay home as the city continued to disinfect places frequented by the patient.

Edited by TSB