Palawan’s 2nd COVID-19 patient is not in the province

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY –– A 34-year-old woman is Palawan’s second coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient.

The health department, however, said on Wednesday evening that residents need not panic because the patient was admitted at the Ospital Ng Maynila Medical Center.

Still, they should follow the strict enhanced community quarantine guidelines.

Noel Orosco, regional epidemiologist of the Department of Health (DOH), said the woman was recorded under Palawan because she is a resident of the province.

“It’s true what’s in the national tracker, however, we are still verifying how long she has been living in Quezon City. It is common at the National Capital Region that when asked which province they [people] came from, even though they don’t live there anymore, they never forget their province,” Orosco said.

He added that hospitals in Manila “directly give information to the national” office without going through the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit.

Dr. Mary Ann Navarro, the provincial health officer, said in a press statement early Thursday that DOH Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) was coordinating with the national office to realign the reporting.

“The DOH Mimaropa is in contact with DOH national for this COVID-19 positive case won’t be listed under Palawan because she is not an actual patient in the province,” she said.

LZB