Panglao MHO declares that the medical worker who allegedly “escaped” from his quarantine at ACEMC hospital, visited Panglao thrice in the first week of June and had close contact with local residents.
Dr. Julieta Cogo, Panglao MHO, said the medical worker visited the town in three different episodes in the first week of June.
In a radio interview over “Open Forum” on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, Cogo narrated that the medical worker stayed in Panglao on June 1, June 5, and June 6, 2020.
She said that the medical worker attended his mother’s birthday party on June 1, 2020, which was a Monday.
The MHO also said that the medical worker visited his mother’s house in Panglao on June 5, 2020 and stayed overnight.
On June 6, 2020, the medical worker allegedly was invited by a friend to a birthday party also held in Panglao.
In the June 6, 2020 event, Cogo said that the medical worker had a “short” drinking session.
Cogo continued that the medical worker was called by the hospital on June 6; 2020 to start the quarantine.
The medical worker started his quarantine on June 6th even if the result of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test of the former Covid-positive patient from Barangay Dao was released in the afternoon of June 4, 2020.
The MHO said that there are 55 persons that are identified as subjects for contact tracing by the personnel from the Panglao local government unit (LGU).
She said that it is possible that the number of persons involved in the contact tracing may reach 60 individuals.
At this time, about eight (8) houses in Barangay Bil-isan are under lockdown, Cogo said.
She added that the lockdown will stay until the results of the PCR test on the contacts will be released.
It could be recalled that 2 medical workers from a private hospital, ACEMC, tested positive for Covid infection, per test results released last June 12, 2020.
One of the two medical workers became controversial after Mayor John Geesnell Yap II reported that the said medical worker “escaped” from quarantine.
However, the private hospital maintains the medical worker did not “escape” as he only reported back to the hospital to be quarantined almost two (2) days after the PCE result of the former Covid-positive lady from Barangay Dao came out.