OFW from Naawan under observation

NAAWAN, Misamis Oriental — An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from this town was brought to an isolation room in a hospital of a neighboring town a day after her arrival from Hong Kong on Feb. 2.

The state-run Philippine News Agency reported that the Department of Health (DOH) took samples from the patient and the result is expected to be available today.

Naawan Mayor Dennis Roa said Wednesday he came to know of the overseas worker’s arrival in the town because of information provided by a concerned citizen who reported that the person appeared to be sick.

In the evening of Feb. 3, Roa said the town government’s rescue unit picked up the 29-year-old woman from her house where she lives with her parents and a niece.

“At first, she was hesitant but the team explained to her the procedure and the mandate of the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) to help the DOH monitor possible cases of coronavirus,” Roa said.

If the patient tests negative for the novel coronavirus, she will undergo a second swab test where the result will be available in 48 hours, Roa said.

But Dr. Gwendelyn Labastilla, Rural Health Unit officer of Naawan, said the woman showed no signs of sickness.

“She is asymptomatic,” Labastilla said during a briefing with the barangay officials and health personnel on Wednesday.

Dr. Adriano Suba-an, officer-in-charge of DOH in Region 10, said the number of persons under investigation (PUIs) in northern Mindanao was down to three as of late Monday evening.

Suba-an told the Cabinet Officers for Regional Development and Security (Cords) in Region 10 on Tuesday that two of the remaining PUIs are in the Camiguin provincial hospital, and one in Northern Mindanao Medical Center here.

“We are still waiting for the three test results” from the the government-run Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), Suba-an said. (Philippine New Agency)