The Municipal Mayor of Maluso, Basilan Hanie Bud suspected that the 65 year old first confirmed covid death coming from their municipality is a case of local transmission.
Bud claimed, based on the information provided by the family of the patient, the patient has no travel history.
The patient, 65-yrs old male resident of Townsite, Maluso, Basilan was first brought to Basilang General Hospital in Isabela City, Basilan on June 25.
Initially he was diagnosed with respiratory ailments and with other complicating diseases. The patient was later transferred to the hospital’s Covid ward. But the family insisted not to, pending the result of the RT-PCR test.
Bud claimed, the family later decided to discharge the patient as the situation worsened. Despite the insistence of the hospital awaiting RT-PCR test, the family decided to discharged the patient against medical advise (AMA). A waiver was signed and thus the family’s insistence was followed, to bring home the ailing patient.
Last July 9 the patient expired at their residence at Townsite, Maluso, Basilan. Upon knowing of the death, the Municipal Health Office requested the dead patient be buried within 11 hours as they assumed it was a Covid patient. Bud said the family, who are Christian insisted for them to have a 9-day wake, but “we have humanely negotiated with the family to bury their next of kin” since they have assumed it was a Covid patient.
“Dahil Christian sila, kahit ang pari hindi na lumapit”, when they bury the patient, following a strict protocol, Bud said.
Last Sunday, the result came out and the patient was positive with Covid-19, he added.
Bud claimed, prior to the death of the patient, a priest have visited the patient, and was now also ordered to undergo “14-21 days quarantine” until the RT-PCR test turns negative.
“Sa ngayon ang kanilang purok ay naka lockdown,” and members of the family underwent PCR swab test, Bud said.
If the thorough inquiry, “wala talagang travel history etong namatay na Covid positive, eto ay isang local transmission case”, Bud concluded.