Man dies of COVID-19 in May but receives certificate of recovery this July

The family of a man in Cebu City was shocked when they received a certification from the local government stating that their relative had recovered from COVID-19. But the man died on May 30 due to the virus.

Ian Cruz reported to GMA News on “24 Oras” on Monday that the family of the deceased Fructoso Mabatid received the certification dated July 3 from the Cebu City health department stating that he “clinically recovered” from COVID-19.

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According to the family, they have not seen Mabatid since he was taken to the hospital due to the virus.

They also said they did not see his body because it had to be buried immediately. Three days later [June 2], authorities confirmed to the family that Mabatid was positive for COVID-19.

The patient is said to have acute respiratory failure and pneumonia due to COVID-19.

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“Sana po gawin nila nang maayos’ yong trabaho nila dahil naiintindihan po namin na mahirap naman talaga ‘yong trabaho nila pero sana ‘di na ‘to mangyari ulit,” said Dorathy Valencia, Mabatid’s granddaughter.

(I hope they do their job well because we understand that their job is tough, but I hope it will never happen again.)

“Sana magbigay to ng leksyon sa kanila na mahirap tanggapin sa iba ang nagawa nila at sana hindi ito mangyari sa iba,” she added.

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(I hope this gives them a lesson that it is difficult for others to accept what they have done, and I hope it does not happen to others.)

Also read: DOH retracts report on emerging COVID-19 hotspots in Metro Manila

In a statement, Cebu City health officer Dr. Daisy Villas took full responsibility for such certification.

According to Villas, there was an “apparent miscommunication and clerical error” on the part of the health personnel in Barangay Kamputhaw and city health office staff assigned to provide certification to clinically recovered individuals.

“It is with deep regrets that this unfortunate incident happened during these challenging times. We humbly apologize and sympathize with the family,” the official said.

Department of Health Central Visayas assistant regional director Dr. Guy Perez, meanwhile, said they will review the incident.

“Ire-review natin yan. Kino-coordinate natin ‘yong ating reporting at tsaka’ yong mga cases so basically, these are the things we need to improve,” said Perez.

(We will review that. We are coordinating our reporting and also the cases so basically. These are the things we need to improve.)