The state-run Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) on Thursday said its ward dedicated for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases has already registered zero cases after its last patient was discharged after recovering from the illness.

Dr. Bernard Julius Rocha, NMMC medical specialist, said the last patient at the hospital’s Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (EREID) has been discharged Thursday after multiple tests cleared her of the virus.

The EREID ward caters to confirmed, suspected, and probable Covid-19 patients, including those who exhibit severe pneumonia and flu-like symptoms.

“The 49-year-old female from Barangay Kauswagan is already in stable condition and currently asymptomatic. (She) was discharged from NMMC at 12:15 p.m. on June 25. Last test done dated June 24 at NMMC GeneXpert Laboratory revealed a negative result for the presence of Sars-Cov-2. Patient has already recovered from her Covid-19 infection,” Rocha said.

Since January, the NMMC recorded a total of 240 admissions, of which 215 patients tested negative for the virus, 20 were found positive, and five died.

NMMC’s GeneXpert laboratory, which started testing on May 21, has recorded 86 samples analyzed, of which three tested positive, while 83 tested negative.

Random testing

Meanwhile, the seroprevalence random testing by the Department of Health Region 10 (DOH-10) and the City Health Office (CHO) has begun testing 500 residents in Barangay Carmen.

The testing aims to determine the level of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome- Coronavirus 2 (Sars-Cov2), measured in blood serums, in the population of the village–the city’s most densely populated area.

Dr. Ian Gonzales, DOH-10 head of infectious diseases cluster, said the seroprevalence survey seeks to complement community surveillance to identify people likely to be Covid-19-infected–symptomatic or asymptomatic.

Gonzales said the sample size was already pre-identified households based on probability sampling, which means an individual will represent each zone of the said barangay.

He said blood samples will be taken from the participants and will be interviewed.

“We are hoping that there will few or none at all who will refuse the testing, because this will be an opportunity for them to get tested, and give feedback,” Gonzales said.

Barangay Carmen has been found to have the most history of Covid-19 cases, where five are currently active cases, three have already recovered, and three patients died since March.

Dr. Teodulfo Joselito Retuya, CHO resident epidemiologist, said the chosen participants will be subjected to a rapid test to detect antibodies in people through blood samples.

But Retuya clarified that the rapid tests cannot be used to determine the presence of the Sars-Cov2, the virus that causes Covid-19.

“Those who are found to be “reactive” or positive in the rapid antibody tests still need to undergo real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) confirmatory tests,” he said.

Retuya also said health workers will conduct a “knowledge, attitudes and practices” survey ahead of an information campaign on Covid-19, adding the results of the survey will also allow health workers to bring those likely to be infected to isolation facilities as a safeguard against the spread of the disease.

He said the seroprevalence survey can be used as a basis for science-based decisions on strategies for Covid-19 response.

Meanwhile, Retuya announced that the city has recorded the 28th case of Covid-19 patient–the 12th active case as of Thursday. (PNA)