Cebu City remains COVID-free

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City remains coronavirus disease-free as of yesterday after test result shows that the 27-year-old patient under investigation (PUI) who died over the weekend of severe pneumonia was negative of COVID-19.

Dr. Daisy Villa, Cebu City health officer, said that 15 additional results from the 65 swab samples they sent for testing at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) arrived on Tuesday and all were negative. This is on top of the 16 negative results reported last week.

“Akong i-announce balik nga result from RITM 15 kabuok yesterday (Tuesay) ang niabot kadtong namatay nga 27 year old naa didto negative ang result,” Villa said.

Although she was admitted for other infection, the patient was considered a COVID-19 suspect and swab samples were taken from her for testing after she exhibited symptoms of the disease and her history of travel to Manila. She died on March 15 while waiting for the test result from the RITM.

The record showed that the patient was first admitted on February 4 for tuberculosis meningitis. She was re-admitted on March 10 and died five days later because of severe pneumonia and acute respiratory disease.

Meanwhile, the city government considers deploying shuttle service for nurses and other health professionals who are considered frontliners in the fight to stop the contagion.  Mayor Edgardo Labella thought of providing free transportation for frontliners following reports that some nurses are being discriminated in public transportation.

 A netizen posted on Facebook complaining at how PUJ drivers allegedly refused nurses a ride and treated like lepers. Labella said that Sambag II Barangay Captain Caloy Belarmino also requested for additional transportation for workers who finished their work at night.

Workers had a hard time getting a ride home at night because of the general community quarantine implemented  by the city government to stop the contagion.  FPL (FREEMAN)