DOH confirms 4th COVID-19 case in Caraga

The Department of Health (DOH) Caraga confirms the fourth COVID-19 case in the region based on the RT-PCR results received from the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).

The fourth confirmed case is a 37 year old, female, and a health worker from Caraga Regional Hospital (CRH). Per hospital protocol, all health workers are required to undergo strict facility quarantine following the tour of duty from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) dedicated ward. The health worker remains asymptomatic after fourteen days of strict health facility quarantine but is now admitted to the said health facility for observation, monitoring and follow-up test.

“We are doing all means to protect, isolate and actively monitor the condition of the affected individual,” DOH Caraga Regional Director Jose R. Llacuna, Jr. said.

Pursuant to DOH Department Memorandum 2020-0180, at-risk health care workers with no symptoms but has a relevant history of contact to COVID-19 will be tested. Thus, CHD-Caraga fully implemented such policy to protect health care workers and their families.

“Likewise, the DOH National has granted our request to provide nineteen health care workers in CRH as human resource augmentation while we ensure that all health care teams have enough personal protective equipment,” the health chief stressed.

Meanwhile, 15 RT-PCR laboratory results from suspect cases are negative for COVID-19. These cases are from patients admitted at Butuan Doctors’ Hospital, Butuan Medical Center-Annex, D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital, Manuel J. Santos Hospital, Nasipit District Hospital, and Caraga Regional Hospital.

As of this time, DOH Caraga has already recorded a total of four confirmed COVID-19 cases in which the first three have already been discharged and recovered. (DOH Caraga/PIA Caraga)