Zamboanga City’s first COVID-19 patient recovers, goes home

Photo from Zamboanga City Hall

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Easter Sunday marked a new life for the city’s first new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient as he was cleared of the infection and was discharged from the hospital.

Tagged by the Department of Health (DOH) as PH613, and locally as ZP01, the 29-year-old engineer from Barangay Sinunuc was quarantined for 21 days at the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC).

Dr. Justin Elfred Paber, ZCMC public information officer, announced that PH613 was already released without fanfare to protect the disease survivor.

“We prioritize the safety of our patient first. We’ll ensure our patient reaches home safely first rather than being the first to post anything on social media,” Paber said.

The patient had come from Manila, as he was heading home to escape the impending lockdown of the national capital last month.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar said PH613’s recovery is great news for Zamboangueños on Easter Sunday.

“The patient has tested negative and has been discharged today. Our warmest felicitations to ZP01 and our sincerest gratitude to the medical team who took care and aided ZP01 on his recovery,” Salazar said.

She also looks forward for similar outcomes for the six other cases in the city, five of whom are confined at the ZCMC.