16 patients in Eastern Visayas found negative of COVID-19

TACLOBAN CITY –– All 16 patients under investigation for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Eastern Visayas have been found negative of the virus, according to health authorities here.

“As of now, we do not have any admission of a patient under investigation but we will not let our guards down and continue our advocacy for a healthy Region 8,” said Dr. Minerva Molon, Department of Health in Eastern Visayas (DOH-8) director.

She reiterated that their office would continue to coordinate with other government agencies and local government units, including the barangays, to ensure that any person suspected of being infected with COVID-19 would be given proper care and attention.

The latest PUI in Region 8 was a 25-year-old woman from Samar who worked in Jiangsu, China. She returned last Jan. 30 for a vacation.

But she was confined in a hospital in Tacloban on Feb. 11 after she developed a mild sore throat, cough, and colds.

Swab results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, however, showed that she was negative of the virus and was discharged on Feb. 14.

Molon, in the meantime, asked the public to refrain from spreading false information regarding COVID-19 and should only believe information from health authorities like the DOH.

“We would like to remind the public with our assertion that any news of suspected or confirmed cases circulating in various media platforms remains speculations without official verification from our office,” the DOH-8 regional director said./lzb