- *MITCH M. LIPA
Results from latest swab samples of the two Bacolod residents, who tested positive for COVID-19 Delta variant, showed that Patient No. 1 from Barangay Banago is still positive of the virus while Patient No. 2 is no longer infected, the Bacolod Emergency Operations Center reported.
Family members and close contacts of both patients also underwent swab tests, although EOC Executive Director Em Ang said Patient No. 1 is no longer infectious, based on the evaluation of medical experts.
Both patients contracted the virus in July and the Delta variant was detected after genome sequencing. The Department of Health confirmed the report Thursday, Aug. 12.
Ang said that the head of the Infectious Diseases Department of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital considers the latest result from Patient No. 1, a 71-year-old resident of Banago, as normal with the remnants of the virus still in his system.
“The patient is now asymptomatic and the members of his family tested negative of the virus after Friday’s swab testing,” Ang said.
She added that the patient will remain under strict home quarantine until he tested negative of the virus after a series of swab tests that will be conducted by the City Health Office.
Meanwhile, Patient No. 2, the 32-year-old pregnant woman from Barangay Sum-ag, is no longer infected with the virus, but her two children and a neighbour tested positive. The three were asymptomatic and were placed on strict home quarantine.
Patient No. 2 contracted the virus last month and was asymptomatic.
The EOC is expanding the contact tracing among the other family members of Patient No. 2 to prevent the spread of the virus, Ang said.
Officials of the two barangays were instructed to keep a close watch on the close contacts and monitor their condition, Ang said. — MML
