Cotabato City (June 10, 2020) — The Bangsamoro Government’s Ministry of Health (MOH) has recorded seven (7) new positive cases of Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on Tuesday, June 9.
Health Minister Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan said these new cases are Locally Stranded Individuals (LSI) who were sent back home to Lanao del Sur last June 6.
“The RT-PCR testing came out yesterday and 7 of them tested positive,” Dipatuan said in a press briefing here on Wednesday.
The said LSIs, who arrived at Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro City via chartered sweeper flight, are from Baguio, Rizal, Quezon City and San Juan.
As of today, BARMM has a total of 38 positive Covid-19 cases, 8 of them have recovered, 4 died and 27 are active cases—26 are admitted and 1 recovering in an isolation facility.
Of the 38 total confirmed cases, 18 are from Lanao del Sur, 16 from Maguindanao, 2 from Basilan, 2 from Sulu, while Tawi-Tawi remains to have zero recorded case.
“All of our active cases are stable and are on strict quarantine and medication,” Dipatuan said.
Meanwhile, Dipatuan appealed to the Local Government Units to strengthen their measures and coordination with the MOH to have all the LSIs monitored and pass through necessary protocols before sending them back to their homes.
“This is really a challenge to us, because some LSIs returning home are not properly coordinated and documented, particularly those who are travelling by land using their private vehicles,” he explained.
Dipatuan said there’s no problem with LSIs and returning OFWs who were sent back through sweeper flights or vessels, because MOH can easily monitor them. They were directly sent to isolation facilities, symptomatic or not.
To ensure safety of the communities in BARMM, Dipatuan also appealed to the LSIs going back home to always cooperate with their LGUs and undergo necessary protocols. (Bureau of Public Information)
