LOCAL TRANSMISSION. Department of Health 13 (Caraga) Director Jose R. Llacuna Jr. declares local transmission of Covid-19 in Butuan City after reporting 16 new infections during a press briefing on Friday (June 19, 2020). Llacuna also announced 25 new infections in the region. (Screenshot from DOH-13 Facebook page)
BUTUAN CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) 13 (Caraga) has confirmed local transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) after reporting 16 new infections in Butuan City.
“Since there are three cases in Butuan City who have no history of travel to areas with community-wide transmission, nor exposed to a positive case or a close contact of a known confirmed case, and two new confirmed cases in which the possible source of exposure is the history of travel to Butuan City, we now declare that Butuan City has local transmission,” DOH-13 Director Jose R. Llacuna Jr. said late Friday.
The 16 new infections raise Butuan City’s total number of confirmed Covid-19-positive cases to 27.
Due to these developments, Llacuna called on local government units (LGUs) to strictly implement the health protocols to contain the spread of Covid-19.
Leaders of the Regional Task Force (RTF) One Caraga Shield are expected to convene soon to discuss measures in line with recent developments.
Butuan City Mayor Ronnie Vicente C. Lagnada last Thursday issued Executive Order 36, placing 33 barangays under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
The 16 new infections are among the 25 new Covid-19 cases in Caraga based on results of 136 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results from the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City.
“Of the 25 new cases, 16 are from Butuan City; two from Buenavista, Agusan del Norte; two from Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur; one from San Francisco, Agusan del Sur; one from Lingig, Surigao del Sur; two from Bislig City, Surigao del Sur; and one imported case from Zamboanga del Sur who is still in our facility,” Llacuna said.
Of the figure, 14 are female and 11 are male, while 60 percent of them are aged between 21 years and 40 years, he said, noting that only one was manifesting mild signs and symptoms while 24 are considered asymptomatic. (PNA)
