Police had to be called in last week at the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital after a CoViD-19 positive patient from barangay Bagacay caused a stir by leaving his room, and taking a stroll at the hospital premises.
Dr. Liland Estacion, assistant provincial health officer, confirmed the information that was revealed by Provincial Board Member Estanislao Alviola during a caucus of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Friday.
“Gahi gyud to’g ulo. Bantayan gud to siya. (He’s really hard-headed. He should be watched), Estacion said.
Responding policemen, however, did not go near the victim for fear of getting the virus. “Igo ra silang ninan-aw (They could only watch the patient),” Estacion said.
After some coaxing, the male patient, who had a travel history to the Middle East, returned to his room.
But his condition soon turned for worse Thursday, and had to be transferred to the SU Medical Center to be intubated. He is now on a respirator.
Negros Oriental now has recorded four CoViD-19 cases. Of these four cases, two have died. They are the Councilor of Tayasan and his sister-in-law. The Councilor’s brother initially tested negative for CoViD-19 but was found to be positive in the second test. He, along with the patient from Bagacay, are both confined at SUMC.
Doctors in Dumaguete also believe there may have been other patients who had died of CoViD-19 symptoms who could have been false negatives. One of these patients was the DSWD employee from Poblacion 2 in Dumaguete who had a travel history to Cebu. He was buried before a second sample could be taken. The latest one was an employee of the Tayasan Councilor, who died last week in his hometown Bayawan City.