TODAY City Epidemiologist Dr. Joselito Retuya has debunked a false claim that the Covid-19 positive from Camaman-an, who died recently, was a vendor at the Cogon Public Market.
At the daily press briefing at the city hall this morning, Retuya said they have conducted a deeper investigation on the Covid-19 patient from Camaman-an, referred to as Patient 6783, and have also conducted a contact tracing even when he was still a person under investigation at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center.
"The patient was not a vendor in Cogon Public Market. He had a small store sa iyang residence. Gamay gyud. Isa ra ka tao ang moigo sa tindahan. So, wala siya'y naabay sa pagbaligya sa iyang tindahan," Retuya clarified.
He added that Patient 6783 had a preexistent medical condition and had been in and out of NMMC to change his urinary tube and bag.
"The last time he had his tube removed was on March 10 at NMMC. Upon referral to NMMC, since he was a PUI we already conducted contact tracing," Retuya said.
He said Patient 6783 had five children with two of his children living separately and three living on the same abode with the patient.
"He was admitted to NMMC on April 15 and was swabbed for testing on April 17. He died on April 18," said Retuya.
Retuya said they have visited about 680 households in Camaman-an following the death of Patient Patient 6783. They have validated nine cases of influenza-like illness in the area. He added that they have placed the 16 people who have had close contact with the patient in the city's isolation unit.
"So far, they have no unusual symptoms and are in stable condition," he said.
He said Patient 6783 was buried in Bolonsiri Public Cemetery less than 12 hours after he died. (Cong B. Corrales)
