On Good Friday: One Recovers, Another Positive, and An Error On COVID19 Test Result
by Vinalou G. Vizcocho
HOPES were raised and dashed in a single day as both good and bad news rocked the Zambales – Olongapo – Subic Bay Freeport area on Good Friday (April 10).
First, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) of Zambales announced that the first confirmed positive case of the COVID19 Virus in the province has recovered.
“Ikinagagalak pong ipaalam ng PHO sa publiko na ang kauna-unahang kaso na kumpirmadong positibo sa COVID19 sa ating lalawigan ay nasa maayos ng kalagayan sa kasalukuyan,” Dr. Noel C. Bueno said in a statement.
The 73-year-old male former US Navy Serviceman from San Antonio, Zambales has already tested negative of the virus twice, Bueno said.
The PHO, however, on the same day recanted an announcement issued the previous day that a patient at the President Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Hospital (PRMMH) in Iba, Zambales has recovered from the virus.
According to Bueno, the 42-year-old female from San Felipe Zambales was erroneously reported to have tested negative on Thursday by the Provincial Department of Health Office (PDHO), thus, the wrong announcement.
“Bagamat hindi sinasadya, humihingi po ng paumanhin ang PHDO sa pagkakamaling ito at nangangakong hindi na mauulit ang pangyayaring ito,” Bueno said.

In the Subic Bay Freeport, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chair & Administrator Wilma T. Eisma announced that a COVID19+ patient at the Baypointe Hospital has been released.
“Today, April 10, 2020, Good Friday, BayPointe Hospital sent home a COVID-19 patient from Olongapo City who have now tested negative and is fully recovered,” Eisma said.
This came as the Olongapo COVID-19 Task Force confirmed that a 35-year-old Filipino female have tested positive for the virus, the fifth case in the city.
“Lima (5) na po ang Confirmed COVID-19 case sa ating lungsod,” said Mayor Rolen C. Paulino, Jr., “Ang pasyente po ay nagkaroon ng sintomas ng COVID-19 at kasalukuyan po siyang naka-isolate sa isang pagamutan sa lalawigan ng Bataan, at nasa stable na kondisyon.”
To date, Paulino said the city has one (1) patient who has recovered from the virus while a total of 1,236 Persons Under Investigation (PUI) and Persons Under Monitoring (PUM) has been cleared of the COVID19.
The latest count place the total PUI of the city at 146, and PUM at 269. (VGV)
###