COVID-19 patient escapes from Davao City facility

A female COVID-19 patient escaped from confinement in Davao City, according to a report on Dobol B sa News TV on Monday.

Based on a report by Raul Tolibas by RGMA Davao, the patient escaped from a quarantine facility as confirmed by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte in an interview on a local radio.

The patient, Mayor Duterte said, escaped by jumping out of a window last Saturday, May 9.

The patient had initially asked permission to go home, and escaped when officials did not allow her.

The police went to the residence of the patient in Barangay 23-C on Monday morning but she was not there.

“Pinuntahan namin siya doon sa lugar nila kaso wala. Wala siya roon sa bahay nila. Wala rin siya doon sa kanilang barangay. We do not know kung nasaan siya ngayon.  Hinahanap pa rin siya,” Sara said in an interview with Davao City Disaster Radio.

Mayor Duterte has since appealed to the patient to come back to the facility.

The COVID-19 patient’s escape has already prompted the city government to beef up the security of its health facilities to prevent similar incident.

“Hindi lang siya ang [gustong tumakas], meron pang iba na naga-attempt. May security tayo sa ating mga facilities, but this time, dinagdagan na,” Sara added.

The Philippines has recorded at least 10,794 COVID-19 cases as of Sunday. Of this number, 1,924 recovered while 719 died. --Llanesca T. Panti/KBK, GMA News