DOH Caraga announces today, July 21, 2020, 121 RT-PCR results received from Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), and Northern Mindanao TB Reference Center (NMTBR) sub-national laboratories.
Of the said RT-PCR results received, 91 tested negative while thirty (30) turned positive for the COVID-19 virus.
The negative RT-PCR results are from the suspect cases, probable cases and high-risk individuals who either have turned positive in the Rapid Antibody-based Test or with relevant travel and exposure to COVID-19 areas. These are cases from different quarantine facilities and hospitals in the region.
As mentioned above, 30 samples are new RT-PCR confirmed positive results for COVID-19.
Of the 30 new cases, 60% (18) are Locally Stranded Individuals, 26.67% (8) are Returning Overseas Filipinos, 10% (3) are residents of an area declared with local transmission and 3.33% (1) with a history of travel to Cagayan de Oro. As to sex distribution, 56.67% are males while 43.33% are females. For age group, 36.67% belong to ages 20-30 years old. Cases are distributed in the following areas:
Butuan City – 11 (3 are local transmissions)
Carmen, Agusan del Norte – 1
Bayugan City – 1
municipalities of Agusan del Sur-
Bunawan – 4
San Francisco – 1
Surigao City – 2
municipalities of Surigao del Norte –
Alegria – 1
Bacuag – 3
Pilar – 1
Placer – 1
Sison – 1
San Isidro – 1
Bislig City – 1
Lingig, Surigao del Sur – 1
“We strongly remind the public to practice the minimum health standards. Let us BIDA Solusyon to COVID-19: B-bawal walang mask, I-isanitize ang kamay, D-distansya ng isang metro and A-alamin ang totoong impormasyon,” Regional Director Jose R. Llacuna, Jr. said.
Twenty-four of the new cases are asymptomatic while six cases have exhibited signs and symptoms. Moreover, all cases are placed, admitted and isolated at designated quarantine and treatment facilities region wide for monitoring and management.
“At the same time, we have already resumed our Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio campaign. Let us protect our children especially those aged 0-59 months or below 5 years old from this dreadful and debilitating immunizable disease. The campaign will end on August 2, 2020 with the hope that we will achieve the 95% national target. As of July 20, 2020, the partial vaccination coverage of the region is 27.14%. We can only get the target if we work together. Health workers will observe the proper health protocols to ensure safety of the vaccination team and the community by wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) like face masks and face shields, gloves and regularly wash or sanitize their hands as they conduct the house to house strategy. Remember, there was already polio outbreak before the COVID-19 pandemic,” the health chief concluded.
To date, Caraga region now has a total of 245 COVID-19 confirmed positive cases. CTTO