Centenarian beats COVID

I commend our treatment and care personnel for their efforts in keeping the mortality rate in the city low

BAGUIO CITY — Age doesn’t matter in defeating the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

A 106-year-old man from Barangay Irisan here credited his strong immune system in his recovery against the disease.

He is the oldest in the country to beat COVID-19, defying medical experts who say the elderly are less likely to survive once afflicted with the virus.

Baguio City Health Services Officer Dr. Rowena Galpo said the patient was discharged Tuesday after 11 days of confinement at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.

The centenarian underwent swab test on 9 October after experiencing mild symptoms. Were he younger, hospital confinement would not have been necessary.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong Jr. lauded the hospital staff for saving the patient.

“I commend our treatment and care personnel for their efforts in keeping the mortality rate in the city low,” he said.

Of 1,704 total infections in Baguio, only 21 have died as of 19 October. There are still 589 active cases.

LSI return suspended

In Northern Samar, residents staying in Metro Manila and other regions planning to come home must reschedule their trips for another 15 days at least after the province suspended anew the acceptance of locally stranded individuals (LSI).

The moratorium on the return of LSI, which took effect Tuesday, came as the joint Regional Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases and Regional Task Force on COVID-19 put the entire province under general community quarantine.

The provincial government asked for the suspension as COVID-19 cases escalated in recent weeks. From 153 at the start of October, there are now 343 cases affecting 21 municipalities as of 18 October.

Northern Samar also has the second highest number of active cases in Eastern Visayas with 164 — 61 in the provincial capital of Catarman.

Authorities also placed 23 villages in Catarman under modified enhanced community quarantine to keep residents off the streets.