KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews / 20 February) – Region 12 remains negative of the killer coronavirus disease (Covid-19), a regional Department of Health (DOH) official said Thursday morning.
Arjohn Gangoso, DOH-12 health education and promotion officer, said one person considered as Patient Under Investigation (PUI) is still being observed in an undisclosed hospital in the region.
“We are still awaiting the laboratory result from RITM (Research Institute for Tropical Medicine),” he said.
There were three reported PUI cases in the region as of Wednesday afternoon, but the two have already been discharged after they tested negative for Covid-19.
The Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit recorded 60 Patients Under Monitoring (PUMs) in the region, DOH-12 said in a statement.
Forty-five PUMs have already completed their 14-day home quarantine, it said.
The 15 other PUMs still in home quarantine are from General Santos City (3), North Cotabato (10) and South Cotabato (2).
Region 12 also includes the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani and the cities of Koronadal, Tacurong and Kidapawan.
The DOH-12’s Center for Health Development reminded the public to always perform preventive measures such as regular washing of hands.
It also urged residents to limit going to crowded places and to always eat nutritious food.
The center urged residents showing signs and symptoms of fever, cough and having difficulty in breathing to seek early medical consultation.
Covid-19 has so far infected over 74,000 persons worldwide, mostly in Wuhan City in China, and killed over 2,000 of the patients.
(Bong Sarmiento/MindaNews)
