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DOH confirms 2 positive cases in Davao City

By Che Palicte

March 22, 2020, 6:52 pm

DAVAO CITY – The Department of Health in Davao Region (DOH-11) confirmed on Saturday night that two persons from this city tested positive for the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

The total number of cases in the whole Davao Region is now three with the first case, PH130, a 21-year-old female from Pantukan, Davao de Oro.

Of the two positive cases, PH262 is a 47-year-old male, a resident of this city, and has a travel history to Metro Manila.

He arrived in the city on March 6 and experienced colds on March 13.

The other one, PH263, is a 47-year-old female, also a resident of this city, has also traveled to Metro Manila.

She arrived on March 6 and has developed colds and body discomfort and weakness on March 9.

DOH-11, however, confirmed that both are currently asymptomatic and on strict home quarantine.

Mayor Sara Duterte, in a radio interview on Sunday, urged the Dabawenyos not to panic amid the positive cases in the city.

“Let us not focus on how many positive cases that we have. Let us focus on how to stop the spread of the disease,” she added.

She reiterated doctors' call to stay at home, observe social distancing, wash hands regularly and avoid people coming from places with Covid-19 positive cases.

"Remember, if you have a direct physical contact with a Covid-19 positive and you have flu-like symptoms, better go to the hospital immediately,” Duterte added.

She also reiterated that Dabawenyos should follow doctors' advice in combatting the disease.

Meanwhile, two of the four patients under investigation (PUI) for Covid-19 who have died while waiting for their results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) turned out be negative for the disease, DOH-11 also confirmed.

The following patients all tested negative: the 71-year-old who had a travel history to Laguna and Metro Manila and the 68-year-old Korean businessman who had gone to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Manila, and arrived on March 9 in the country.

The DOH is still waiting for the confirmation results of the other PUIs. (PNA)

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