COVID sickens 15 Army troops

From Panay News (Oct 27, 2020): COVID sickens 15 Army troops (By Ruby Silubrico)

ILOILO City – The virus SARS-CoV-2 which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infiltrated the Armed Forces of the Philippines, sickening 15 61st Infantry Battalion (61IB) soldiers based in Miag-ao, Iloilo.

Of the 15 61IB troopers, three were admitted to the Guimbal District Hospital in Guimbal, Iloilo, according to 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) spokesperson Major Cenon Pancito III.

Twelve asymptomatic soldiers, on the other hand, were quarantined at the 61IB’s isolation center.

According to Pancito, the index case was a soldier with the rank of Sergeant.

On Oct. 24, he went to the Guimbal District Hospital for a check-up after exhibiting symptoms similar to COVID-19 like cough.

There, the soldier underwent reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test. His result turned out positive.

The 61IB immediately initiated contact tracing and they accounted 14 soldiers who had exposure to the COVID-19-positive Sergeant.

“The test results of the 14 soldiers were released Monday afternoon – all positive for COVID-19,” Pancito said.

He noted that the infected soldiers have no history of travel since they were on training at Camp Monteclaro in Barangay Igtuba, Miag-ao.

The 3ID, according to Pancito, sent a doctor to check the troops who were all in stable condition.

http://www.panaynews.net/covid-sickens-15-army-troops/