Palawan reports 1 new COVID-19 case

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY –– A close contact of the first coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient in Brooke’s Point town, Palawan province, also tested positive for the infectious disease, becoming the second confirmed case in the southern town.

Dr. Lovelyn Sotoza, Municipal Health Office chief, said Tuesday that the COVID-19 patient was a 21-year-old male returnee from Taguig City, who arrived in Puerto Princesa on July 4 aboard a Philippine Airline flight.

The patient was nonreactive to the rapid diagnostic test upon his arrival. However, he was considered a close contact of the first case and was made to undergo a confirmatory test.

Sotoza said the patient remained in isolation in one of the town’s facilities as he continued to show no symptoms.

Palawan now has 53 COVID-19 cases, with 27 active cases, 25 recoveries, and one death.

Puerto Princesa has the highest number of active cases at 10, followed by Cuyo town with seven. Bataraza town has six active cases, while two each were reported in the towns of Roxas and Brooke’s Point.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported that as of Monday, a total of 3,167 Palawan residents have arrived in the province since the government eased travel restrictions in late May.

Of the number, 2,506 were locally stranded individuals, 164 were overseas Filipino workers, and 497 were essential personnel or allowed persons outside of a residence.

Edited by LZB