In Eastern Samar
TACLOBAN CITY- The mayor of Oras town in Eastern Samar raised her concern over an incident involving a man who died reportedly due to complications related to coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Mayor Viviane Alvarez said that the local government unit as well as the Provincial Health Office (PHO) were not informed by the regional office of the Department of Health (DOH) that the man died due to the dreaded virus.
She said that the positive swab result of the patient was released on Nov. 23 while his family and relatives were holding a wake at their residence.
This incident has put in danger the health of those who attended the wake, the town mayor said.
The patient died on Nov.21 due to COVID-19 complications while he was confined at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC), this city.
“Sadly, there was no proper coordination and information to the PHO nor to the rural health unit nor to the family on the handling of the cadaver,” Alvarez said on her Facebook account.
The man is the first COVID-19 related death of the town which has posted 50 cases due to the dreaded virus.
It was learned that the man was first brought at the Maulong Hospital in Catbalogan City last Oct.14 as he was suffering from ulcer.
Five days later or on Oct.19, he was transferred to EVRMC in Magsaysay Boulevard, this city. A swab test on him yielded a negative result.
On Oct.22, he was transferred at the new EVRMC located in Brgy. Bagacay where he died due to respiratory problem last Nov. 21.
His remains were returned to his hometown on Nov.23 where his family held a wake. It is during this time that his swab result was released by the DOH.
Alvarez said that their task force immediately conducted contact tracing to the primary contacts as she disclosed that she urged the second and third generations contact to undergo isolation.
The town mayor said that she ordered that lockdown be put into effect in the villages of Paypayon, San Roque, Balocawe and Agsam until the contact tracing is over.
“Please stay home, follow health protocols and cooperate.We need the help of everyone in this trying time,” Alvarez said. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
