The Cotabato Regional and Medical Center in Cotabato City. (Photo lifted from CRMC FB page)
COTABATO CITY – Eight coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients, five of them front-liners from the city, have recovered from the disease on Monday, the Department of Health-Region 12 (DOH-12) said.
“The five front-liners are workers at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center who were all exposed to Covid-19 patients at the hospital,” said Arjohn Gangoso, speaking for the Department of Health-Region 12.
The three other recoveries were two from North Cotabato and one from Tacurong City, he added.
With eight recoveries, Region 12 now has a total of 361 recovered patients or 56 percent out of 641 cumulative confirmed cases across the region since March this year.
Twenty-three new cases were also reported Monday, 17 of whom were from South Cotabato.
Meanwhile, Rolen Balquin, city public safety officer, said the recovery of five front-liners was an indication that something better is coming.
“The number of persons getting infected had slowed down the past three days, I hope it will continue,” Balquin said.
To date, he said 11 sub-villages categorized as Covid-19 “hotspots” are being considered to be placed under a localized lockdown to further control the spread of the virus.
“We are still awaiting approval from the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force on our recommendation to place these sub-villages under containment,” Balquin said.
Of the collective Covid-19 confirmed patients since March 18 when the first case was reported this year, 44 have so far been healed from a total of 78.
“Active cases are at 34 and they are all under treatment at isolation facilities here,” Balquin said.
Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi cautioned there was no reason to celebrate the reported decrease of Covid-19 cases “as the fight is not yet over”.
“I call on the people of the city to continue practicing discipline and to respect our laws and policies amid this pandemic,” she said, urging everyone to wear face masks all the time, use face shields, and safe physical distancing. (PNA)
