The number of confirmed COVID-19 patients in the MIMAROPA region climbed to 34, as two positive cases from Oriental Mindoro and one from Romblon were reported by the regional health authorities on Tuesday.
Oriental Mindoro governor Humerlito Dolor said the recorded two COVID-19 patients were part of the expanded testing campaign by the province since the onset of general community quarantine(GCQ).
“Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon ay nagkaroon tayo ng dalawang COVID-19 positive cases mula noong isailalim tayo sa GCQ. Lahat ng naunang 16 COVID-19 positive cases ay nangyari habang nasa ECQ pa ang Oriental Mindoro,” Dolor said.
Patient 667 is a 58-year-old male from Barangay (Upper) Odiong, Roxas. He was diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus II. The patient was admitted on May 4 because of fever, headache, sore throat, difficulty in breathing, and malaise.
“Namumuhay mag-isa sa tahanan at walang history of travel sa labas ng lalawigan [si patient 667]”, Dolor said.
Patient 668 is a 31-year-old male returning overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from Brgy. Tabinay, Puerto Galera. The patient arrived from Abu Dhabi on April 15, finished his 14-day quarantine, and disembarked at Calapan Port on April 29. He tested positive on the rapid diagnostic test (RDT) upon his arrival in Oriental Mindoro and has been in isolation area until his real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) confirmatory test confirmed his infection.
“Siya ay nananatiling asymptomatic hanggang sa kasalukuyan,” Dolor added.
The two patients from Oriental Mindoro are stable while contact tracing is being undertaken.
Oriental Mindoro tops the list in the MIMAROPA region with 18 confirmed cases. Occidental Mindoro and Marinduque both recorded six positive COVID-19 patients. Romblon and Palawan each reported two.
Romblon’s second COVID-19 patient is a 76-year-old female with local travel history, according to the Department of Health (DOH) Center for Health Development (CHD) in MIMAROPA.
Meanwhile, Palawan currently awaits 27 test results from San Lazaro Hospital. The island province currently tracks 66 suspect COVID-19 patients, 21 of whom were admitted in different hospitals while 45 were under strict home quarantine.
