Dr. Rogelio Aturdido Jr., chief of the South Cotabato Integrated Provincial Health Office. (PNA-GenSan file photo)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – A cockfighting aficionado who attended a derby in Davao City last month is South Cotabato province’s second confirmed case of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Dr. Rogelio Aturdido Jr., chief of South Cotabato’s Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), said Tuesday the 56-year-old male patient (PH 3268) tested positive for Covid-19 based on laboratory results released Monday afternoon by the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City.
Aturdido said the confirmation came out a week after the patient, who hails from Banga town, was discharged from a local hospital following treatment for severe acute respiratory illness, one of the symptoms of the disease.
“He is currently in stable condition and undergoing strict home quarantine, in close coordination with health personnel,” he said in a press briefing.
Aturdido said the patient was confirmed to have joined the Araw ng Dabaw six-cock derby held at the New Davao Matina Gallera on March 6-12 that has been linked to at least 11 Covid-19 deaths and some positive cases.
He returned home last March 13 and started showing symptoms such as cough, fever, and breathing difficulties three days later.
Aturdido said the patient initially underwent home quarantine and treatment for mild symptoms under the supervision of a private doctor but was eventually admitted to a hospital on March 27.
He later recovered from his symptoms and was “discharged in good and improved condition,” he said.
Aturdido said municipal health office personnel and members of the barangay health emergency response team were already tracing the persons who had contact with the Covid-19 patient, especially during the first three days that he was asymptomatic.
He said they were also verifying whether the patient had attended gatherings and other activities after arriving from the Davao City cockfight.
Banga Mayor Albert Palencia said in a radio interview that they have initially identified at least two persons from nearby Surallah town who had accompanied the patient.
However, Palencia said the two, who underwent home quarantine after being considered as persons under monitoring, did not manifest any signs and symptoms of the disease and are now considered cleared.
With the confirmation of the second Covid-19 positive case in the province, Aturdido urged residents not to panic, remain in their homes, and practice strict physical distancing.
The province’s first confirmed case was a 52-year-old (PH 2173) patient from Tboli.
“As of today (Tuesday), we don’t have a documented case of local transmission and we are working to maintain that,” he said. (PNA)
