Test on 1st coronavirus patient in Caraga yields negative result

BUTUAN CITY, April 19 — The Department of Health (DOH) Caraga received the second follow-up test result of the first confirmed positive of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Caraga. This is the 68-year-old, male, patient from Butuan City admitted at the Caraga Regional Hospital. The said result is Negative.

The patient was discharged on Saturday following the assessment and recommendation of the attending physician.

Furthermore, two Negative test results were received. The additional results were from the suspect cases: a) 47 year old, male, Filipino, admitted at Nasipit District Hospital and b) 38 year old, female, Filipino, who died at Butuan Doctors’ Hospital.

“Again, we are reminding the public to adhere to the DOH health advisories. We can beat COVID-19 by observing regular hand washing, proper cough etiquette and physical distancing and/or just strictly stay at home,” said DOH Caraga Regional Director Jose R. Llacuna, Jr.

Likewise, a team from the World Health Organization (WHO), Department of Health Central and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) arrived on Friday at the Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center in Tandag City to evaluate their application to be a sub-national laboratory of RITM for the confirmatory testing of COVID-19. The same team will visit Caraga Regional Hospital in Surigao City to check the hospital’s capacity for COVID-19 lab testing.

“Our DOH hospitals in the region are applying to become sub-national laboratories of the RITM. We will comply with the requirements and we hope to pass the certification,” Dr. Llacuna said. (DOH Caraga/PIA Caraga)

source https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1039354