Covid-19 positive health worker lauded

SAN JOSE, Camarines Sur --- The first-ever Covid-19 case here who is a barangay health worker coordinator assigned at Rural Health Unit (RHU) and tagged by the Department of Health (DOH) as Bicol # 74, was given moral support by local officials and co-workers for heroism as she was infected while in the line of duty.

According to the advisory released by the DOH on Saturday, May 30, the Covid-19 patient is a 56 years old female resident of this town with history of exposure to Patient # 67. She is asymptomatic.

On the same day that the DOH confirmed the test result, San Jose Mayor Dr. Marco P. Chavez, convened the town’s Incident Management Team (IMT), which subsequently formulated measures and promptly implemented them to safeguard the health and welfare of residents here.

RAPID TESTING. Government officials and employees of San Jose town in Partido area undergo rapid testing being administered by the municipality’s health workers headed by Mayor Marco Chavez (right), a medical doctor. Photo by Dodong Valencia

As a result of the meeting, Barangay San Juan, where Patient # 74 is a resident was placed under total lockdown. Close contacts of the patients were subjected to rapid testing and her immediate family members were brought to the Camarines Sur Provincial Hospital in Banasi, Bula to undergo swab testing and quarantine protocol.

The following day, residents of said San Juan and all local government officials and employees were also ordered by Chavez to undergo rapid testing.

As this developed, residents of the barangay under total lockdown received various relief goods such as rice and grocery items from local officials, Gov. Migz Villafuerte and Rep. Arnie Fuentebella.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno donated 2,000 packs of rapid test kits and other food items from mayors of neighboring towns in Partido Area and private individuals.

In a recent development, Chavez placed the San Jose Municipal Hall on lockdown after the result of the rapid test conducted on municipal personnel showed that one employee and a senior citizen with exposure to Patient # 74 tested positive for Covid-19.