The family of a suspected COVID-19 patient from El Nido currently confined and in a state of coma at the Ospital ng Palawan has sought to deny rumors spreading online that the patient had tested positive.
The patient’s son, in an exclusive interview with Palawan News on Tuesday, denied the rumor by pointing out that the swab test on the patient has not yet been released by the Department of Health (DOH).
The patient, a 63-year-old mother of three with no prior medical illness record, first sought medical help at the El Nido MHO for difficulty in breathing and copious amount of phlegm on April 11. While she did not have a fever at the time, one of the symptoms of COVID-19, as a precaution, the patient was brought to Puerto Princesa City from El Nido town for COVID-19 testing on April 12.
“Noong una, dinala namin siya sa municipal health office (MHO) [in El Nido] at kinuha ang temperature niya. Nasa 36.7° lang naman, pero para panigurado, nagbigay ng endorsement na ipa-confine siya sa Puerto [Princesa City]. Sumailalim siya sa testing para panigurado rin. ‘Yon ang advice ng doctor sa ONP,” he said.
She was admitted and isolated at the provincial hospital with an initial diagnosis of “severe case of pneumonia”, as explained by the doctor to his son.
The son, who is currently watching over the suspected COVID-19 case, said that the patient remained to be intubated and was in a “comatose state” due to heavy accumulation of phlegm in the lungs.
COVID-19 confirmatory test result is anticipated to be released on Wednesday (April 15), as relayed to the family member by the attending physician.
The Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) of the Department of Health (DOH), in an advisory on Monday evening, asked the public to remain calm amid the crisis and reiterated to the public the importance of following the precautionary measures set to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“Pinapakiusapan ang mga mamamayan na manatiling mahinahon at gawin ang mga preventive measure upang malabanan ang pag kakasakit at mapigilan ang pagkalat ng COVID-19,” the statement said.
The family is preparing to cover their medical expenses but said that they are open to donations.
“Hindi ko pa talaga nakikita kung magkano na ang babayaran namin. Sa ngayon, kami sa pamilya na lang muna talaga ang sasagot sa pang-ospital, pero kung merong may gustong tumulong sa amin, puwede naman,” said the patient’s son.
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