CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar S. Moreno says there is no need for Kagay-anons to panic despite the reported death of Patient 40 (P40) late evening of March 13 at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC).
Moreno also reminded the public that P40 was not a resident of Cagayan de Oro and upon contact tracing made by the Department of Health (DOH), the latter is originally a resident of Pasig City who came home directly to his residence in Lanao del Sur.
P40 was immediately confined at Iligan City where he was not responding to the medicines in about four to five days stay at the facility. The doctors suspected that he has a worst condition, so they sought help from NMMC.
At the NMMC, he tested positive for COVID-19 prior to his demise.
“We are doing our best to contain the Coronavirus Disease (COVID)-19. We are working with the DOH so that we make all the necessary precautions to avoid any infections,” Moreno said.
P40 has no direct or close contact here upon arrival at NMMC. However, the DOH had been doing their contract tracing meticulously.
Moreno also added that “as a preventive measure, the city will be having disinfection drive to schools, churches and mosques. If the DepEd will decide to continue their exam week, we will do disinfections of the classrooms.”
There is also no need for the a community quarantine or lockdown as to this moment, it will only be implemented if contact tracing fails where possible close contact or second generation contact of a patient positive for CoViD 19 can no longer be traced by the DOH and it seems like you are in the dark by then it is the time to implement it, the mayor said.
In a separate interview, DOH-10 Regional Director Adriano Suba-an confirmed that they already traced the persons P40 was with in the plane and his close contacts are now being observed. They are also tracing the second generation contact.
Moreno asked the media to help the public understand the situation and to not cause panic amongst Kagay-anon.
He urges the public to focus on preventive measures and not to be afraid or panic.
Thus, the mayor reiterated to observe social distancing, proper coughing etiquette, proper handwashing and using alcohol or sanitizer to prevent the virus to spread.
As the city prepares to contain the threat of COVID-19, the public is urged to cooperate and heed the announcements to be released by the DOH.
“Prevention is possible if we all work together,” Suba-an concluded. (JAKA/PIA10)
