Mother, daughter return to Sarangani, test positive for COVID-19
MALUNGON, Sarangani – A locally stranded individual (LSI) and her two-year old daughter, who came from Manila, were tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) here.
Municipal Health Officer Dra. Rafaida Hernandez said the patients were among the LSIs who arrived from Manila last July 8 aboard a chartered passenger bus through the ‘Hatid Tulong’ program of the national government.
She said the patients were subjected to swab tests on July 13 while undergoing quarantine at the municipal quarantine facility.
She said the mother and daughter tested positive for the virus after a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.
“The mother showed mild symptoms while the child was asymptomatic,” Hernandez said.
She said the patients were being isolated at the quarantine facility here.
The new COVID-19 confirmed cases have brought to five the total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the municipality involving returning LSIs.
The three other COVID-19 patients were transferred to the provincial isolation facility in Alabel town.
Mayor Maria Theresa Constantino said local health personnel have undertaken stringent protocols in handling local COVID-19 patients to ensure that they will not transmit the virus upon their arrival in the locality.
She also warned local residents who spread discriminatory remarks on the social media against COVID-patients and their respective families.
Constantino said they could be criminally charged under the provisions of the Anti-Discriminatory local ordinance.