BUTUAN CITY – Health authorities appealed anew to Caraganons to strictly follow all health protocols after 40 new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases were reported Thursday night in Caraga region, with three new deaths.

“As of September 3, 2020, Department of Health (DOH Caraga) reports receipt of 139 RT-PCR confirmatory results from the GeneXpert Reference Laboratory of Butuan Medical Center, Northern Mindanao and Davao region molecular laboratories where 99 tested negative and 40 turned positive for the COVID-19 virus,” it said.

Of the 40 new confirmed positive cases, 17 were additional local transmission cases, 15 were close contacts of previously confirmed local transmission cases, four were non-medical frontliners, three were locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and one was a health care worker.

The youngest was five years old, and the oldest 74 years old.

The confirmed cases were distributed in the following areas: Province of Agusan del Norte- Buenavista (4), RTR (3); Province of Agusan del Sur- San Francisco (1), Province of Surigao del Sur- Lianga (1), Cantilan (1); Bayugan City (1), Butuan City (29).

The confirmed cases in Butuan City are residents of the following barangays: Limaha (5), Doongan (4), Libertad (4), Obrero (4), Mahogany (2), Agusan Pequeño (1), Baan Km3 (1), Bancasi (1), Bit-os (1), Fort Poyohon (1), J.P. Rizal (1), Lumbocan (1), Masao (1), Pangabugan (1) and Tandang Sora (1).

As to the medical status of patients, 26 were asymptomatic, 11 were mild, and one was severe. 

In the latest report, however, two of Thursday’s confirmed cases, together with one other previously revealed confirmed case, have died, DOH-Center for Health Development said.

To date, the number of COVID-19 cases in Caraga region now totals 589 with 367 (62 percent) recoveries that have been discharged and released, 209 (35 percent) active cases, and 13 deaths, DOH-CHD Caraga Region 13 said.

All the three fatalities were residents of Butuan City belonging to the 50-70 age group. Two were males.

They had co-morbidities such as diabetes and hypertension, complained of fever, cough and shortness of breath in the 4th week of August. They were admitted three to seven days after onset of symptoms. Following admission for intensive care management, their condition worsened and died three to five days after admission.