Oro’s top epidemiologist tests negative for Covid-19

UPDATED: CAGAYAN de Oro’s top epidemiologist, Joselito Retuya, has been away from city hall’s press briefings since yesterday because he and other doctors feared he caught the virus. Today, he tested negative for Covid-19, making Mayor Oscar Moreno and other officials heave a sigh of relief.

Moreno announced this morning that Dr. Retuya had complained of some “discomfort” but “giingnan ako ni Dr. Bernard Rocha nga he (Retuya) tested negative.”

Rocha is serving as the spokesman of the state-run Northern Mindanao Medical Center were Retuya’s specimen was tested using its Genexpert machine. The result was released this morning.

Moreno said the prospects that frontliners like Retuya would catch the virus is part of the hazards because the doctor supervises the ongoing active health surveillance in the city’s barangays.

“Dili malikayan nga maka-close contact gyud ka sa mga tao,” he said.

Rocha said health workers always face the risk of exposure to the virus.

“Apil gyud ’mi sa risk of exposure. But we follow strict protocols. If he tested positive, automatic na nga i-test gyud mi kay in close contact man mi sa iya. So, he tested negative, most probably nga negative pud mi. Kaluoy sa Dios, we’re okay,” Rocha said.

He said they tested Retuya because he showed symptoms of the disease.

Moreno assured residents that the panelists at the daily press briefings observe the health protocols in their respective offices.

“Of course, galikay ako og contact sa mga tao. Kun aduna ’koy bisita, walay lamano,” he said.

Cagayan de Oro City Police Office spokesman Maj. Evan Viñas, one of the regular panelists, said, “Pasalamat ’ta nga negative si Dr. Retuya. Amo man pud gina-boost among mga resistensya.”

Although Retuya tested negative, Moreno said, this should be a wake-up call for everyone not to be complacent.

“Dili ingon nga technically pwede na mugawas sa balay, luwas na ang gawas sa balay. That does not mean that the virus is less effective or less dangerous. Busa, individually magbaton gihapon sa basic health protocols. There should be no complacency,” he said.

Moreno enjoined residents to continue practicing the city’s non-pharmaceutical interventions and minimum health standards.

“The task now is nia sa atong kaugalingon ang solusyon. Kining social distancing, pagsuot sa facemask, regular nga paghugas sa kamot dili kana mahal nga interventions,” he said.

City health officer Lorraine Nery said early diagnosis is key in combating the disease.

“Mao nga importante gyud ang self-awareness. Kun aduna mo’y symptoms, kun duna mo’y gibati, magpakonsulta gyud mo,” Nery said. (Cong B. Corrales)

Full story to follow.