Facebook photograb of van with casket at the Covid-9 center area of ONA
ANGELES CITY – Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. today, March 21, 2020, confirmed that Angeles City is still free of Covid–19.
Lazatin’s statement came after residents started panicking after news spread that a Covid–19 positive patient died in Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center (RLMMC), formerly Ospital Ning Angeles.
Dr. Froilan Canlas, RLMMC officer-in-charge, said the patient’s body, who was seen in a Facebook post being taken out from the hospital’s Covid-19 isolation room in a casket, died due to Acute Respiratory Failure secondary to MDR-TB (Multiple Drug Resistant Tuberculosis).
“We have the patient’s record. Since he is suffering from TB, he has the same symptoms of a person under investigation (PUI) of Covid-19. That is why we put him in isolation,” Canlas said.
The patient was a 64–year–old male from Barangay Anunas. He was in RLMMC’s isolation room for six hours before he succumbed to death.
Canlas explained that since he was considered as PUI, the hospital had to strictly abide by the Department of Health guidelines on the disposal of the remains of Covid-19 victims.
“Kahit PUI lang siya, kailangan sundin natin ang guidelines ng DOH,” Canlas said. Under the DOH guidelines the body must be in sealed plastic bag and no embalming must be done.
Lazatin, for his part, reassured his constituents that the city government is doing everything it can to combat the pandemic Covid-19.
He also reiterated his appeal to business establishments that are not essentials to close shop and help limit the residents’ movement.
“Until now may mga laundry shops na matitigas ang ulo at mga nagititinda ng furniture shops. I ordered the Business Permit and Licensing Division to revoke their business permit,” Lazatin said.
