Davao Region’s first COVID-19 patient back in good health

DAVAO CITY–The first confirmed COVID-19 patient in the Davao Region has recovered and can now go home, a health official said.

Dr. Annabelle Yumang, Department of Health (DOH) regional director, said on Monday (March 23) that Patient 130 had been tested negative for COVID-19 in a second test, making her the first patient to have recovered from the disease in the region.

“She can now be discharged since she tested negative and has shown no symptom for days,” Yumang said.

Yumang said the decision to clear Patient 130 was based on a new directive that would require a negative result on one repeat test instead of two.

“Because the patient is feeling well and is in a stable condition, then she can now go home after the first test,” Yumang said.

The health official said after her recovery, the region would now have only two confirmed COVID-19 patients.

Patient 130 has been admitted to the Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City after she tested positive earlier this month.

The 21-year-old female patient hailed from Pantukan town in Davao de Oro and was admitted at the government medical facility on March 10 after showing symptoms.

She arrived in Davao last Feb. 29 from the United Kingdom with layovers in Doha, Qatar and in Manila.

Davao region has a total of 52 PUI, or those with symptoms, 31 of them admitted to the Davao Regional Medical Center and 21 to the Southern Philippines Medical Center, according to the DOH.

DOH also documented a total of 8,285 PUM, or those without symptoms, 1,447 of whom had already been cleared after completing the 14-day quarantine.

Edited by TSB