BUTUAN CITY – Health authorities over the weekend reported that Northeastern Mindanao or Caraga region has now registered 352 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases with 16 new positives for the virus.
“As of August 8, 2020, DOH Caraga confirms receipt of 149 RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) results from Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) and Northern Mindanao TB Reference Center sub-national laboratories where 133 tested negative and 16 turned positive for the COVID-19 virus,” it said.
Of the 16 positive cases, 10 were locally stranded individuals (LSIs), one was a local transmission case from Butuan City, two were frontline health workers in one of the hospitals in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, two were with history of travel to Davao City, one of which is a health care worker from Butuan City and one was a close contact of a previously confirmed COVID-19 positive case.
Per sex distribution, 11 were females, while five were males. Half of the newly infected belonged to the 20-40-year-old age group.
The new confirmed cases were distributed in the following areas: Butuan City (3), Tandag City (1), Bislig City (1), municipalities in Agusan del Sur- Bunawan (1), Prosperidad (1), Loreto (1), San Francisco (3), Sibagat (1), Talacogon (1) and Marihatag, Surigao del Sur (3).
Fifteen were asymptomatic while only one case exhibited mild signs and symptoms, the DOH-CHD Caraga said.
Those who were asymptomatic were strictly being monitored in the designated quarantine facilities, whereas the lone case with mild symptom was admitted in a hospital facility, the health agency said.
To date, COVID-19 confirmed positive cases in Caraga region now totals 352, with 224 recoveries that have been discharged and released, leaving a total of 128 active cases.
“We this new development, we remind the public to exercise vigilance, report early and seek immediate medical attention when experiencing COVID-19 symptoms like cough, colds, sore throat, fever and diarrhea,” DOH 13 Regional Director Dr. Jose R. Llacuna, Jr. said.
“Based on RA 11332 or the Law on Reporting of Communicable Diseases, everyone should coordinate with their respective local health authorities and Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHRT), to report these notifiable diseases and/or any health events of public health concern,” the region’s top DOH 13 official added.