CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The city health office (CHO) here has labeled 54 positive cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) as "hard extraction" or those who preferred to isolate at home despite the local government's call to avail of the services in isolation facilities.
In an online briefer Wednesday, CHO medical officer Dr. Ted Yu Jr. said the patients were already urged by the local government to get isolated in the Covid-19 designated isolation facility to ensure safety and prevent the possible localized transmission of the virus.
"Hopefully, for those (considered as) "hard extraction" (positive cases who are hard to extract), we need your full cooperation for the sake of your family members and loved ones. It is very important for you to be transferred to our facility," he said.
He said out of the number, 2,043 active cases are still at the city's temporary treatment facilities.
In a recent briefing, Mayor Oscar Moreno said implementing certain charges for uncooperative positive cases will not solve the problem.
Moreno reiterated that isolating in Covid-19 facilities is still the best measure to stop the spread of the virus by also following the minimum public health standards.
As of February 15, the CHO has logged 29 new positive cases of Covid-19, bringing the total cumulative cases to 25,332; of which 22,315 have recovered, and 911 died.
The sane CHO data showed that a majority of the Covid-19 active cases are outpatient and only 355 positive individuals are currently admitted in the different hospitals.
Out of the 29 new cases in the city, Yu said 12 are currently under negotiation for transfer to a facility.
The CHO, meanwhile, observed that the daily Covid-19 cases detected in the city have been slowing down compared to the first week of the month with triple digits.
The local government reported a triple-digit of new cases per day last February 2 to February 6.
However, the number of Covid-a9 cases went down to double-digit from February 8 up to the latest tally on Tuesday night.
With this improvement, Yu urged the public to continuously follow the minimum public health standards and get vaccinated against Covid-19 to be protected from the virus.
PhilHealth Covid-19 packages
Meanwhile, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth)-10 Vice President Delio Aseron II said there are modified packages for Covid-19 as part of its 27th anniversary.
He said there are existing Covid-19 benefit packages for Community Isolation Units (CIU), and local government units (LGU), which are allotted with PHP22,449 each for patients confined due to Covid-19 with pneumonia, in-patient packages for mild pneumonia, and the elderly.
A maximum amount of PHP43,000 each is also allocated for those with comorbidities; another with PHP143,000 for mild pneumonia; PHP333,000 for severe pneumonia, and PHP786,000 for critical pneumonia.
The Community Home Isolation Package (CHIBP) for confirmed asymptomatic patients or mild cases of Covid-19 worth PHP5,917 includes home isolation kits, monitoring of patients, and medicines which are provided by the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC), and Camp Evangelista Station Hospital at the headquarters of the Philippine Army's 4th Infantry Division in Barangay Patag of this city.
Adjustments were also made on the benefit packages for SARS-CoV-2 testing using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) per Circular No. 2021-0021: P800 to P2,800 for plate-based and PHP500 to PHP2,450 for cartridge-based RT-PCR tests.
The SARS-CoV-2, detected in tests, is the causative agent of Covid-19.
This year, PhilHealth also looks forward to its “Konsulta” package to help citizens through expanded primary care benefits.
Currently, the two accredited Konsulta providers in the region are the Gingoog City Health Office and JR Borja General Hospital in this city. (PNA)
