Apayao logs first Covid death

August 29, 2020 Provincial

Apayao province recorded its first COVID19 death last August 22 though only officially released the information Wednesday (August 26) evening. The case who was tagged as PH Apayao29, is a 16-year-old male who was hospitalized and went thru a medical procedure in Tuguegarao City due to a medical condition.
PH Apayao29 reportedly went home to Calanasan on August 3 and was placed in isolation until swab results came positive. He was admitted at the Apayao District Hospital on August 12 due to headache, vomiting and loss of appetite, and was referred to the Cagayan Valley Medical Center in Tuguegarao City three days after on August 15 due to observance of worsening symptoms of COVID-19.
Results of the repeat RTPCR test done upon arrival atthe hospital yielded a negative result. He was discharged from CVMC on August 19 and was declared as recovered and went to Calanasan to complete the prescribed 14-day quarantine period supposed to have ended on 24 August.
Unfortunately, PH Apayao 29 developed dizziness, nausea and vomiting again on August 21 but did not seek medical consultation. It was only on August 22 when the patient lost consciousness that he was rushed back to the Apayao District Hospital where he expired.
Result of the swab sample taken post-mortem from the patient and subjected to repeat RT-PCR testing is negative. Despite testing negative however, the DOH-CHD-CAR RESU tagged PH Apayao death as COVID-19 related because of the patient’s inability to complete the required 14-day quarantine period before he could be declared fully recovered.
The death of the patient was due to Acute Respiratory Failure and was reported to have “Pineal Gland Tumor” with “Obstructive Hydrocephalus Status Post Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt”. Apayao’s first COVID19 death is the 10th death in the Cordillera region — 7 in Baguio City, and one each for Abra and Benguet.
Ace Alegre/ABN