TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, March 26 (PIA) - - The Department of Health (DOH) region 2 has confirmed two additional positive cases of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Cagayan province today.

Dr. Leticia Cabrera, officer-in-charge, with the permission from the health secretary, confirmed that PH661 and PH662 were tested positive of COVID-19 per Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) results.

Cabrera said PH661, 39 year-old male from Tuao, Cagayan, is working as a security guard in Metro Manila. He fetched his wife who arrived from Hongkong and travelled from Manila to Tuguegarao on March 15 on board Florida Bus number GD73 at seat numbers 35 and 36.

Upon arrival in the bus terminal in Tuguegarao City, the two boarded a passenger jeep going to Sto. Nino town. Upon reaching Tuao terminal, they boarded a tricycle going to their residence.

"On March 17, PH661 felt some of the symptoms such as fever, cough and sore throat that is why he visited their Rural Health Unit but he transferred to Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC) on March 18. He underwent a swab test on March 20. The test result arrived yesterday," Cabrera said.

According to Dr. Glenn Mathew Baggao of CVMC, PH661 is in good condition, no medical apparatus is attached to him but they are strictly monitoring his health condition especially that he has diabetes. PH611's wife is now on strict home quarantine and she is also being monitored by health officials.

Meanwhile, PH662, a 70-year old male, is a resident of Gattaran, Cagayan. He came from Manila on March 12, 2020.

Cabrera said PH662 is now under strict home quarantine as he is categorized to be of mild condition. "He underwent a swab test at CVMC last March 25 and the result also came yesterday. He is now being monitored by the Municipal Health Officer," Cabrera added.

"We also closely monitor his condition," Jan Nicanor Tugadi, epidemiologist of DOH 2, said.

Tugadi said the surveillance team is now conducting contact tracing to all individuals who were in close contact with PH661, including passengers and drivers of the bus, jeepney and tricyle boarded by the patient from Manila to their resident.

Tugadi added that they already identified those who have close contact with PH622 and they are now under strict home quarantine.

The officials also urged all passengers of the vehicles mentioned to coordinate with the health surveillance teams for easy monitoring and to observe strict home quarantine.

In case they feel some of the symptoms, they are advised to consult their respective health officials. (MDCT/OTB/PIA 2-Cagayan)