BACOLOD CITY - A 64-year-old construction worker from Barangay Banago here died of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), two days before his swab test results indicating that he was positive of the virus came out on July 17.
Based on the data of the City Health Office (CHO), the fatality had no travel history to a COVID-19 affected area, or any exposure to a positive patient.
The fatality, tagged as Patient No. 75, initially exhibited symptoms of fever, leg pain, and cough on July 6, followed by difficulty of breathing seven days later.
He was admitted to a hospital on July 14 for progression of difficulty of breathing and cough.
The following day, he expired and was cremated after his swab samples were taken. He was the fourth fatality in Bacolod as per data from the CHO.
According to Barangay Banago Chairman Ricky Mijares, they have yet to determine how the construction worker got the virus.
Mijares said they have identified seven persons who came in close contact with the fatality, adding that contact tracing was ongoing.
Mijares said they were having difficulty with the contact tracing because the fatality had been into some houses and other areas for work, being a carpenter.
Mijares said that nine houses in Purok Mahimulaton, Zone 5, were sealed off within the 30-meter radius as part of the health and safety measures for those residents who are residing near the fatality’s house.
The affected households will be provided with food and assistance by the barangay officials and the city government for 14 days.
The 14 companions of the fatality in their residence were already isolated in a quarantine facility, he said.
Meanwhile, Bacolod has reported 14 new COVID-19 confirmed cases, bringing the total number of cases to 92, as of July 20.
Fifty-two of which have already recovered from COVID-19, per data of the CHO.