First Apayao COVID-19 patient recovers in 4 days

June 8, 2020 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY, June 5(PIA) — The first COVID-19 positive case in the province of Apayao has recovered and now back in Conner town after testing negative of the novel corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19).

The Department of Health-Cordillera on June 1 confirmed that a 28-year old female health worker from Conner who has no travel history outside of Apayao, tested positive for COVID-19.

She was the first confirmed case for the province.

The patient who works at the Conner District Hospital and is six months pregnant was immediately brought and confined at the Cagayan Valley Medical Center in Tuguegarao.

On June 4, Apayao Governor Eleanor Bulut-Begtang said that PH1-Apayao already recovered and was discharged from the Cagayan Valley Medical Center after testing negative of the virus.

Begtang said that as per Individual Official Result received by the Apayao COVID-19 Task Force on Thursday, the patient’s repeat swab test yielded a negative result.

Hospital personnel believed that her early recovery was due to her healthy status and high immune system despite being pregnant.

The patient was welcomed back at the Conner District Hospital with a simple ceremony by the CHD personnel led by Dr. Nelson Rigor and Dr. Michele Torrado and Conner Mayor Martina Dangoy.

“Salamat po sa aking CDH family at sa lahat ng frontliners sa inyong malasakit, malaking tulong ito para malabanan ang virus kahit alam kong may nakaambang panganip na idudulot sa inyo,” she added.

She also thanked the personnel and staff of the CVMC headed by Dr. Glen Mathew Baggao who took care of her since June 1 and made sure that she and her baby are safe and healthy.

She cited the vulnerability even of frontliners to this dangerous virus.

”Yes, I tested positive for COVID-19. A frontliner that fell victim to this virus. Isa po ako sa mga patunay na walang pinipili ang virus. I was just lucky that I’m one of the 10-20% percent people who showed no symptoms,” PH001-Apayao said.

She also called on the public to continue to practice all the COVID-19 precautions and public health standards to ensure safety from COVID-19 virus.

“Hindi pa tapos ang ating laban, dapat lalo tayong maging alerto at lalo pang-paigtingin ang pagiingat at manatili sa bahay.”

The patient will undergo a mandatory 14-day isolation at the hospital before going home to join her family.

Meanwhile, the Task Force called on the cooperation of individuals who had contacts with the patient and the immediate family and relatives to come forward and cooperate with the Contact Tracing Team to stem the possible further transmission of the virus in the province.

Mayor Dangoy upon receiving report of the positive case immediately ordered a lockdown in the municipality. So with Mayor Bensmar Ligwang of neighboring Kabugao.

The lockdown temporarily prohibited movements of persons and individuals within the municipalities while the provincial and municipal governments conduct the necessary precautions and actions to ensure safety of the residents.

The Governor pointed out that the province’s first COVIF-19 case shows that the virus could penetrate even the strictest defenses, can easily spread throughout the local populace, and fatal particularly to the vulnerable population such as pregnant women, senior citizens and those with comorbidities.

“I call for strictest adherence to and observance of prescribed health protocols such staying at home, social distancing, wearing of face masks and maintaining good hygiene, and I hope, for us to heal as one, and for everyone to do their part in our continuing battle with this deadly pandemic,” the governor said.

JDP/ RMC- PIA CAR