51 Barangay Luz patients recover from COVID-19
CEBU, Philippines — Forty asymptomatic patients who recovered from COVID-19 finally went home yesterday after three weeks in isolation.
The patients from Barangay Luz in Cebu City were released after testing negative for coronavirus.
Eldebrian Arañez, barangay spokesperson, said there were 51 who actually tested negative, but only 40 wanted to go back home.
He said 11 patients opted to remain at the barangay isolation center (BIC) because their family members are still there.
But they are now placed in separate rooms far from the positive patients, said Arañez.
“It’s their choice na mo-stay sa school and dili sa mobalik sa community,” he said.
“But they will be given a certificate from the barangay indicating that they are already laboratory negative,” he added.
The city government and the barangay conducted yesterday afternoon a send-off ceremony for the patients.
Last week, 24 patients were the first ones sent home. At that time, there were 68 patients at the BIC.
Arañez said other isolated patients underwent anew COVID-19 testing on May 18.
The results of the test are yet to be released by the City Health Department.
“Gahapon (May 18) gi-rapid test na ang uban na positive and we are waiting for the results which will be given 2-3 days from testing,” said Arañez.
As of yesterday, Arañez said, the BIC houses 80 patients, including 46 from Sitio Zapatera and 20 from other sitios.
A total of 104 patients in Cebu City have recovered from COVID-19. Bulk of the recoveries came from Sitio Zapatera in Barangay Luz.
Placing asymptomatic patients at the BIC is pursuant to the Department of Health’s memorandum 2020-0123, which states that asymptomatic patients need to be isolated at a level 1 facility like the BIC.
If the patients’ symptoms worsen, they will be brought to level 2 facilities, such as the Bayanihan Quarantine Center, the Cebu City Quarantine Center and the IEC Pavillion.
All the city’s designated BICs can accommodate at least 2,800 patients. KQD (FREEMAN)
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