Remote island town in Quezon records first 2 COVID-19 cases

LUCENA CITY – The island town of Jomalig in Quezon province recorded its first two coronavirus disease (COVID-19) case since the pandemic broke out, local health authorities reported on Thursday (Aug. 20).

Jomalig rural health unit said on its Facebook that the two confirmed virus carriers are both males and classified as “authorized persons outside residence” (APOR).

Authorities reported that the latest case, 36, had been to Atimonan town on August 11. Though with coughs, colds, fever, and diarrhea, the said patient still roamed his home village from August 11 to 17.

He got his first medical check-up at the rural health unit on the 17th and subsequently submitted himself to a swab test. The “positive” result came out Friday morning.

The other COVID-19 patient, 38, had his swab test outside of the island on August 18. He returned to Jomalig the next day without waiting for the test result which came back “positive” Thursday.

The first patient is asymptomatic while the second shows mild symptoms. They are both confined to the municipal isolation facility.

Local health authorities clarified that the second patient did not contract the virus from the first.

Authorities have identified and placed under home quarantine at least 33 persons who had close contacts with the second patient.

Jomalig is at the southeastern part of the Polilio island group in northern Quezon facing the Pacific Ocean. It is the smallest and remotest municipality of the province and can be reached by four to six hours boat ride from the port of Real town.

At the onset of the COVID-19 scare in March, the local government closed its island to tourists and outsiders.

On Wednesday, San Narciso town also recorded its first two COVID-19 cases after months of being coronavirus-free.

As of Thursday afternoon, Quezon logged a total of 775 COVID-19 cases, 352 of which are active. The province also recorded a total of 399 recoveries and 24 deaths.

/MUF