Number COVID-19 PUM in Cotabato up by 34 percent —health official

KIDAPAWAN – The number of persons under monitoring (PUM) for COVID-19 in North Cotabato has increased by 34.4 percent in the last two days, a local official said Friday.

Cotabato Second District board member Dr. Philbert Malaluan said the rise in the number of PUM was due to their recent travels to Metro Manila and to countries with COVID-19 cases.

Malaluan, also the manager of the Cotabato Emergency Operations Center on COVID-19, said that as of 12 noon of March 19, the number of PUM rose to 1,103 from 723 the day before.

But the sharp increase, Malaluan said, shouldn't be a cause for alarm.

“This only showed that the mechanism that we have set up for surveillance and monitoring of residents in the province who have travel history to Metro Manila and countries with Covid-19 cases has improved," he pointed out.

Of the 1,103 PUM, 32 are considered patients under investigation (PUI) as they manifested mild flu-like symptoms.  Both PUM and PUI cases are undergoing home quarantine, provincial data shows.

As of March 20, Malaluan said the province was still free from the novel coronavirus.

Governor Nancy Catamco last Thursday in her EO 22 ordered a "preemptive lockdown," where selected establishments were ordered closed.

According to Malaluan, the provincial government still allows the operation of establishments, service centers, or stations providing health services like hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and drug stores, and those involved in agricultural supply, veterinary services, slaughter houses, and funeral homes with chapel services.

Catamco's EO 22, however, prohibits local and foreign tourists from visiting and staying in resorts, lodging houses, inns, and hotels to prevent possible transmission of COVID-19. —LBG, GMA News