COVID-19 pandemic in Caraga
Disease COVID-19
Virus strain SARS-CoV-2
Location Caraga
First outbreak Wuhan, Hubei, China
Index case Butuan
Arrival date April 6, 2020
(5 years, 10 months, 2 weeks and 4 days)
Confirmed cases 41,354
Recovered 33,283
Deaths
1,337
Government website
caraga.doh.gov.ph

The COVID-19 pandemic in Caraga is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus reached Caraga on April 6, 2020, when the first case of the disease was confirmed in Butuan. The region was the last of the Philippines' 17 regions to confirm their first case. All provinces now have at least one confirmed COVID-19 case.

Timeline

The first COVID-19 confirmed case in the Caraga region was announced on April 6, that of a 68-year-old male from Butuan who was admitted at the Caraga Regional Hospital in Surigao City. The patient had travel history to Manila, arrived in Butuan on March 12, and developed symptoms while in self-quarantine. The whole region was placed under enhanced community quarantine within the same day.[1][2] The region was the last region in the Philippines to confirm its first COVID-19 case.[3]

The first case in Surigao del Norte was officially recorded on May 15, which involved a 37-year-old female health worker employed at the Caraga Regional Hospital.[4]

Agusan del Norte confirmed its first case on May 24.[5] The case was that of a male patient who arrived in the region from Metro Manila on February 29. The patient is asymptomatic at the time of confirmation and underwent a rapid antibody-based test on May 19 conducted by the local government.[6] Agusan del Sur already has at least a recorded case by the end of May 2020.[7]

The first three cases in Surigao del Sur were recorded on June 19, two in Bislig and one in Lingig. Community transmission was also confirmed in Butuan in the same day after it was learned that three people who tested positive for COVID-19 had no travel history to a place with confirmed community transmission or contact to a known infected person.[8][9]

Dinagat Islands was the last province in the region, and in Mindanao overall, to log its first case. On August 22, the provincial government announced its first seven cases; four in Loreto, two in Cagdianao, and one in San Jose.[10]

On September 23, it was announced that Surigao del Sur Governor Alexander Pimentel tested positive for the disease, becoming the first elected official in the region to do so.[11]

Tally of cases

Cumulative COVID-19 cases in Caraga Region
Confirmed cases in Caraga Region by province (as of September 24)[note 1]
LGU Cases Deaths Recov. Active
Agusan del Norte 5,034 104 4,402 528
Agusan del Sur 10,311 173 8,643 1,495
Butuan 10,878 191 9,504 1,183
Dinagat Islands 1,328 38 1,221 69
Surigao del Norte 5,111 172 4,504 435
Surigao del Sur 9,531 223 8,307 1,271

References

  1. ^ "Caraga reports first COVID-19 case". CNN Philippines. April 6, 2020. Archived from the original on April 28, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  2. ^ Panganiban, Chris (April 6, 2020). "Caraga region no longer COVID-19 free". MindaNews. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  3. ^ "Caraga put under enhanced quarantine after confirming region's first COVID-19 case". CNN Philippines. April 6, 2020. Archived from the original on April 28, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  4. ^ Panganiban, Chris (May 16, 2020). "Caraga health worker is 4th COVID-19 case in region". MindaNews. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  5. ^ "5th COVID-19 positive in Caraga recorded". Department of Health Caraga. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  6. ^ Awitan, Charmane (May 24, 2020). "Kumpirmadong kaso ng COVID-19 sa Caraga region, umabot na sa 5". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  7. ^ "DOH Caraga Announces Three New COVID-19 Cases". RPN. May 31, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  8. ^ "DOH confirms local transmission of Covid-19 in Butuan". Philippine News Agency. June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  9. ^ "First three COVID-19 cases reported in Surigao del Sur". CNN Philippines. June 20, 2020. Archived from the original on June 21, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  10. ^ Arguilas, Carolyn (August 23, 2020). "Dinagat province records first COVID-19 cases". MindaNews. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  11. ^ Lopez, Alexander (September 29, 2020). "Surigao Sur guv hospitalized for Covid-19". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved October 30, 2020.

Notes

  1. ^ Breakdown of confirmed cases is according to the COVID-19 Case Tracker of the Department of Health.