3 returnees among new COVID-19 patients in Occidental Mindoro

CITY OF CALAPAN –– Three returning residents are the latest patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Lubang town in Occidental Mindoro province, according to a March 21 report by health authorities.

One of the patients is an 83-year-old woman from Barangay Likas ng Silangan, who came from San Juan City in Metro-Manila. The woman, who has hypertension and bronchial asthma, had an intermittent cough and sore throat. Seven of her close contacts have been identified.

The second patient, a 48-year-old man from Barangay Binacas, returned from Mandaue City, Cebu. He showed no COVID-19 symptoms. Six of his close contacts have been identified.

The third patient is a 53-year-old woman from Barangay Vigo, who returned from Sampaloc, Manila. She had no symptoms. One of her close contacts took a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test and got a negative result.

The three patients tested positive in a rapid antigen test for COVID-19 on March 11 and were immediately quarantined in their designated barangay facility. Their specimens for RT-PCR were collected on March 16 and sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine the next day.

The results released on March 21 showed the presence of the virus that causes COVID-19.

“We reiterate the call for stricter observance of the minimum public health standards knowing there is no mandatory quarantine being imposed on all Returning Residents,” said Dr. Teresa Pagilagan, Lubang health officer and facility manager, and Dr. Daniel Panaglima, rural health physician and facility physician in the report.

The island municipality of Lubang closed its borders last year when COVID-19 entered the country.

As of 11:11 p.m. of March 21, Occidental Mindoro had a total of 354 cases, with 57 active, 284 recoveries, and 13 deaths.

LZB