Man in vehicular crash is 4th COVID-19 case in Cagayan de Oro

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Philippines — A 21-year-old man who figured in a vehicular accident two weeks ago is the fourth patient who tested positive for the new coronavirus in the city, health officials said on Saturday.

Dr. Bernard Rocha of the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC), said the patient was admitted at the hospital on April 19 after the vehicular accident that involved him and six others in Barangay Lumbia here.

Rocha added that the patient underwent a spine operation on April 21 and was later transferred to another medical facility the following day.

The patient was tested for the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after he manifested symptoms of pneumonia, Rocha said.

The test result from the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City on Friday showed him positive for COVID-19, and he was brought back to NMMC.

Rocha said 31 NMMC personnel who attended to the patient during his previous confinement had been placed under quarantine.

He said the patient was awake, though intubate, and receiving treatment.

Rocha said the patient was “not stable” but “not critical.”

Capt. Valentines Baja, Lumbia police chief, said the patient, a resident of the same barangay, was with a group of friends who went for a ride on April 19 and probably had a drink before the vehicular accident happened.

The patient was the worst injured of the seven.

Authorities are still establishing when and how the patient contracted the virus, as well as tracing his other contacts.

Dr. Ian Gonzales of the Department of Health’s infectious disease cluster is urging those who had come n contact with the patient or have information about him to get in touch with the authorities.

/atm