The first two patients of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in this province have recovered and were discharged Monday from the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center, a medical official said.

Dr. Anatalio Cagampang, Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center chief, said the patients were discharged on the same day their test results arrived from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

Cagampang said two were declared positive of Covid-19 on March 30 and tested again while they were confined at the isolation ward of the medical center.

“They were both clinically stable (at that time),” he said.

One of the two discharged patients is a 52-year-old male from the nearby town of Labangan with travel history from Taguig, Metro Manila. He returned home on March 14 via Zamboanga City.

He manifested symptoms such as cough, sore throat, fever and colds and was admitted at the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center on March 17.

The other discharged patient is a 62-year-old female from this city, who traveled to Manila on March 5. She returned March 7 to this city.

She manifested signs and symptoms on March 13 and underwent self-medication and quarantine. She was admitted March 19 at the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center.

However, Cagampang said both patients will still have to undergo another 14 days home quarantine and will be monitored by health workers.

Cagampang urged the neighbors of the two to treat them with respect.

“Don’t discriminate them, they’re also human beings who need care and respect,” he said. “Let’s celebrate as we have two Covid-19 patients who recovered and discharged from the hospital”.

Meanwhile, Cagampang reminded the people not to be complacent and “to stay at home and practice proper hygiene”. (PNA)