BAGUIO CITY – An employee of the Department of Trade Industry (DTI) based in Makati City, and a medical worker at the obstetrics (OB) ward of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) have come out in public as having contracted the coronavirus disease.
Gina Socal, 54, said he came to Baguio City to visit his wife and 10-year-old daughter in an apartment at Barangay Pinsao Pilot on August 3, where he immediately had a swab test at Teachers Camp because for the past two weeks in Makati City, he was having chills, feeling fatigued and had colds.
“On August 6, at around 2 pm, I was informed by a medical doctor that I tested positive for COVID-19. I even forgot the doctor’s name at natulala na ako (I got shocked) upon hearing the sad news. I was fetched by an ambulance at around 7p.m. of the same day, a few meters away from my apartment and taken to the Sto Nino isolation center where I am at present,” Socal narrated.
“Honestly, I feel fine: No chills, colds, and aches .I pray that I will fully recover soon. I have asked my relatives in Cotabato to pray for me and requesting the good people of Baguio for their prayers. I thank God that the swab tests of my wife and daughter came back negative,” he added.
Kathreen del Rosario, 31, a nurse assigned at the OB Ward of the BGHMC, and 18 weeks pregnant, was among the 25 new COVID -19 patients reported on Thursday.
"I was swab tested for COVID-19 on August 12 since I was exposed to a co-worker who was found to be positive for the disease," del Rosario bared.
She said, on the following day, August 13, just after having lunch with her famiy at home, she received a call from the chief nurse asking how she was.
“I told her I was feeling fine,” del Rosario recalled.
“A little later, I noticed a missed call from the BGHMC infectious unit head, which made me worried. I called her and asked If I tested positive which she sadly confirmed,” she added.
Del Rosario said that while she was worried not only about her health, but also that of her unborn child, her husband and parents, she knew that she will come out of the situation victorious with her “faith in the Lord”.
“I am very thankful for the continued support of my BGHMC family and to the city government especially Mayor Benjie Magalong for his recent order warning the public not to discriminate against those who are found COVID-19 positive and their families,” she said.