The Covid-19 update as of July 10, 2020 of the South Cotabato Integrated Provincial Health Office
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The Department of Health (DOH)-Region 12 confirmed on Thursday night four more cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in South Cotabato province but noted that the patients are in stable condition.
Arjohn Gangoso, DOH-12 health education and promotion officer, said in a situation report the latest patients were stranded residents who returned home from Metro Manila early this week.
He said three of them -- a 60-year-old male, 29-year-old female, and 31-year-old female -- arrived in the province last July 8 while the other, a 42-year-old male, came home on July 6.
“Three of the patients had history of travel from Manila and one from Quezon City,” Gangoso said.
The four tested positive in the confirmatory Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test processed at the Dr. Arturo P. Pingoy Medical Center in Koronadal City, he said.
A report of the South Cotabato Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) showed that the additional cases were from Koronadal City and the municipalities of Norala, Tampakan and Tboli.
The confirmed cases in the province have increased to 25, with 16 recoveries and nine under quarantine and treatment.
Dr. Rogelio Aturdido Jr., IPHO chief, assured that all active cases are undergoing strict isolation and had not made any contact with anyone from local communities.
He said they were brought directly to the designated isolation facilities upon arrival and local government personnel handling them had followed the health and safety protocols.
Based on the local government’s protocol, returning residents were required to undergo medical screening and rapid antibody test upon arrival in the province.
Those who tested positive in the rapid test and manifested suspected symptoms of the disease were subjected to swab collection for RT-PCR test. (PNA)
