BUTUAN CITY -- The regional office of the Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) reported Sunday night 16 new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and two deaths in Northeastern Mindanao or Caraga region.

“As of August 16, 2020, DOH Caraga reports receipt of 110 RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) results from Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) sub-national laboratory and Northern Mindanao Gene Expert TB Reference laboratory where 94 tested negative and 16 turned positive for the COVID-19 virus,” it said.

Of the 16 positive cases, 12 were from Butuan City, wherein six were close contacts of infected patients; five were additional local transmission cases, and another was a health care worker with travel history to Davao City. Three were locally stranded individuals (LSIs) from Buenavista, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur and Socorro, Surigao del Norte, and one was from Kitcharao (Agusan del Norte) who was admitted in one of the hospitals in Butuan City. 

The other new confirmed cases were from municipalities located in Agusan del Norte: Buenavista (1), Kitcharao (1), San Francisco, Agusan del Sur (1) and Socorro, Surigao del Norte (1). 

There were 10 asymptomatic cases, and two each exhibited mild, moderately-severe, and severe COVID-19 symptoms.

The two severe victims eventually expired.

The asymptomatic cases were strictly being monitored in designated quarantine facilities, while the symptomatic patients were admitted in identified hospitals for management, the DOH-CHD report said. 

For the two new COVID-19 deaths, the first case was a 30-year-old male from Butuan City, who had an onset of COVID-19 signs and symptoms on August 5. He sought consultation last August 11 and admitted in a private hospital on the same date. Four days after, the patient died, the state health agency said. 

The second case was a 79-year-old female from Kitcharao (Agusan del Norte), a known diabetic and hypertensive, who had onset of signs and symptoms on August 4. The patient sought consultation last August 11 in a district hospital and was referred immediately to a private health facility in Butuan, and died less than 24 hours from admission, the DOH-CHD said.

To date, COVID-19 confirmed positive cases in Caraga region now totaled 393 with 305 recoveries, 85 active cases, and three deaths. 

“Butuan City local transmission cases are still on the rise and regrettably, we now have two additional deaths,” said DOH 13 Regional Director Dr. Jose R. Llacuna, Jr. in a virtual press conference Sunday night. 

“For the past weeks, our cases were consistently from the young and productive age group,” he said. 

“However, for this set of results, the older population are then again affected. With this, we reiterate our call to strictly protect our vulnerable population especially our senior citizens, pregnant women and those with co-morbidities,” stressed the region’s health chief. 

“For the other members of the household, exercise strict minimum health protocols like proper handwashing, physical distancing of at least one meter and making sure that all items and dirty clothing are removed and cleaned upon entering the house, stressed further the health official. 

“We appeal to our vulnerable groups to observe social distancing and wear face mask if it is necessary to go out. Let us not let our guards down but continue to be vigilant, seek early consultation and do not wait for your signs and symptoms to worsen,” Llacuna concluded.