Increasing number of suspected cases not a cause for alarm – PHO

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Provincial Health Officer Ernell Tumimbang said the increasing number of suspected coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 cases is not a cause for alarm at all.

PHO records showed that suspected COVID-19 cases increased from four on April 17 to 62 on May 2 before posting a very slight decline to 56 on May 4.

“It is not a cause for alarm at all,” Tumimbang said.

He said the spike in numbers is due to the wide classification of suspected cases.

Tumimbang said suspected cases now include persons with Severe Acute Respiratory Infection as well as influenza like symptoms.

Also included are persons with co-morbidities such as senior citizens and pregnant women, he added.

Tumimbang said that health workers who have fever and sore throat are automatically classified as suspected cases.

Tumimbang said suspected cases were subjected to swab tests and many of them yielded negative results.

PHO records showed that there is no additional COVID case in the province after the two repatriated OFWs who tested positive for the virus early last week.

The two are part of the 35 OFWs repatriated from Cebu who arrived in the province before Holy Week.

The rest of their batch were already released from 14-day quarantine at the Provincial Healing Center in EB Magalona last week.

They were subjected to COVID-19 rapid test and were given quarantine certificates before they were sent home.

Their rapid test results were negative.