The LGU of Tagaytay City defended they only followed the DOH directives in handling COVID-19 patients following the claim of an infected patient that she was forced to leave the city.
Tagaytay City local government said in a statement sent to GMA News Online that patient Agnes Reyes belonged in the high-risk group of patients as she was elderly and has bone cancer based on her declared medical records.
Reyes is a resident of Barangay Caniogan in Pasig and had tested positive for COVID-19 in her first swab test.
“As per DOH guidelines, she should be managed inside a hospital or any health facility designed for appropriate monitoring and management of COVID-19 patients,” the city government said.
“Upon further inquiry from the Department of Health with regards to patient Reyes’ condition, LGU Tagaytay was informed that said patient’s second swab test again yielded positive results, all the more providing local health officials with reasons for greater alarm,” it added.
The LGU of Tagaytay has coordinated with DOH-NCR, Pasig City LGU, The Medical City, where Reyes had sought initial consultation on March 25.
“[The] DOH-NCR affirmed the LGU’s position that said patient should be transferred to an appropriate health facility and not home quarantined, hence, the arrangement for immediate transport and re-admission of patient at Medical City, Pasig were made by the local government unit,” the Tagaytay LGU said.
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LGU says COVID-19 patient falsely claimed she was a resident of Tagaytay City
They also highlighted that Reyes violated health protocols by traveling to Tagaytay City and endangering the safety of its residents. The LGU also said Reyes did not disclose Pasig City health authorities her plan to go to Tagaytay City.
“While she was advised to go on home quarantine, patient should have stayed within Pasig City pending the results of her tests and should have coordinated with Pasig local health authorities for proper monitoring of her case,” the Tagaytay LGU said.
The LGU also said Reyes lied and claimed she was a resident of the area so she could pass through the checkpoints. They only discovered her quarantine in Tagaytay City after the barangay captain of Caniogan posted it on social media.
“She is not a registered resident of the city nor does she own any property in Tagaytay. The residence where patient Reyes stayed for quarantine belongs to her relatives,” the Tagaytay LGU said.
As of this writing, the city has only one confirmed COVID-19 case, while there were 165 persons under investigation.