MICHAEL MEDINA
Editor-in-chief
OZAMIZ CITY—The second confirmed PUI suspected of having contracted Covid-19 died Wednesday evening, April 16, a report from MHARSMC, the referral hospital for Covid-19 cases, said.
The patient, a senior citizen from Tudela, Misamis Occidental, during initial laboratory test tested negative for Covid-19 but later came out positive after confirmatory testing because of showing Covid-19 symptoms later.
The said patient is 69 year-old, male, and suffers hypertension, anemia and benign prostate hypertrophy as co-morbidities who had history of travel to Cebu for medical checkup last March 9-11.
As a recap, the said PUI went to Cebu City and arrived in Ozamiz via Cokaliong Shipping lines, March 23, and felt mild fever. Then, on March 27, he was admitted at the Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. (MHARS) Medical Center here.
The following day, March 28, a swab test was performed that yielded a negative result for COVID-19 on April 4. Another swab test was conducted on April 9, which is already 19 days after his Cebu trip, and he tested positive for COVID-19.
The province earlier recorded two cases of COVID-19 as April 9, nothing more. The first one lived in the neighboring Jimenez and was declared with clean bill of health and sent home last Sunday after completing his regulated 14-day quarantine at MHARSMC.
The companion of the patient is now placed at an isolation center in Tudela and she is not showing any symptoms of the disease.
Governor Philip Tan said he is saddened with the death of the PUI and sent his deepest sympathy to the family.
“He was on his 11th day in the hospital since he became positive last April 4,” he disclosed.
He then appealed to constituents to avoid attending gatherings, just stay at home, and always wear face mask when going out as well as maintain social distancing and practice proper hand washing.
"This is a tough time for all us, especially for the people of Tudela. But we can conquer this if we remain prayerful,” he said.
Tan likewise said there’s no cause for panic since the authorities have taken the right course of action.
“He was fine when I last checked on him Based on Covid-19 patient recoveries worldwide, a patient with Covid-19 usually gets worst on day 9 to 10 but he was doing well,” Tan added.
“He however died on his sleep. Doctors have suspected that he died of cardiac arrest and not because of respiratory problems which is mostly the cause of death in Covid-19 positive patients. Doctors have however taken a swab to determine if he was still positive at the time of his death.
He was immediately buried,” the governor stated.
“His wife is (doing fine), she’s (undergoing) home under quarantine alone. It’s so sad she never (saw) her husband since he was admitted in the hospital until his death.”
“Thank you Misamisnons for your prayers. Let’s stay strong and be careful always. Stay at home (and always) wear facemask, Tan ended. (MICHAEL MEDINA)
