Wife of Iloilo’s first COVID-19 patient negative for virus

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The 62-year-old wife of a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient from Guimbal, Iloilo tested negative for the virus.

Dr. Jay Dorin, Guimbal Municipal Health Officer, said the positive news was relayed to him by the woman’s brother-in-law Friday morning.

Her brother-in-law is also considered a person under monitoring (PUM) for possible exposure to his 65-year old sibling who tested positive for COVID-19, the first in Iloilo province and the second in Western Visayas.

Dorin said he was not aware when the result came out. The wife, while admitted in the hospital, is asymptomatic or has no signs and symptoms.

“It will still be up to hospital authorities when they would discharge her,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dorin said that the COVID-19 patient is in stable condition.

“In fact, his brother told me that he’s now extubated. Daw nagwakalan na gani kuno the last time they talked,” he said.

Dorin said the Guimbal Municipal Health Office has traced 71 individuals who might have been exposed to the patient.

“As of now, thankfully, none of them showed any symptoms relative to COVID-19,” he said.

March 27 also marked their 14th day under quarantine.

Of the 71 persons, 10 are classified to have high risk of exposure while the rest have milder exposure.

The 10 included the patient’s two sisters, a brother, a nephew, their househelp, and his five fellow lay ministers.

“We might issue a quarantine clearance for those who have milder exposure,” Dorin said.

But for those who are deemed to have high risk of exposure, their quarantine period might be extended.

“I’m still asking for suggestion from the Provincial Health Office until when they should be declared cleared,” he said.