Puerto Princesa mayor, Lucilo Bayron, announced Saturday morning, March 21, the first case of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the city.
In a live video posted at the official Facebook page of the City Mayor’s Office, a meeting which was also attended by media, Bayron stated it was Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez who first informed him of the matter.
“Mga alas-singko-y-media nang umaga kanina tinawagan ako ni Governor Alvarez at ininform ako na mayroong positive na nanggaling sa Ospital ng Palawan. Ibinigay ‘yong pangalan, ang pangalan ay Adam Johnson, 26 years old [at] isang Australiano,” said Bayron.
Bayron said he obtained from the governor the phone number of Department of Health (DOH) regional director Mario Baquilod, whom he said was the one that relayed the information to the governor.
Bayron said Baquilod confirmed the matter to him in a phone call.
Bayron said this 26-year-old Australian national arrived in the Philippines March 5; landed in Puerto Princesa March 7 and went directly the same day to a municipality in Palawan.
“Limang-araw makaraan na nandodoon siya sa resort na ‘yan, March 13 nagpa-check-up siya sa isang midwife kasi nag-e-LBM siya, nag-suka at saka may lagnat. Galing doon sa March 13 ipinasundo ng 165 [at] dinala sa ONP. Noong March 14, isang araw makaraan na nasa Ospital ng Palawan, kinunan siya ng swab para ma-check kung siya nga ay mayroong COVID. At mula noong March 14 kagabi lang nalaman ni Director Baquilod na positive nga itong subject na ito,” said Bayron.
He further stated that Ospital ng Palawan (ONP) released the patient the next day, March 15, and was recommended to self-isolate.
Bayron said the subject stayed in a hotel for two days, which the city government is presently gathering data about his stay.
He said the Australian national boarded a commercial plane, which he identified as Air Swift, going to Clark International Airport (CIA) in Pampanga.
Bayron said the city government is presently working hand in hand with different sectors to track everyone who came in contact with the COVID-19 infected subject.