N. Cotabato confirms 1st COVID-19 case

North Cotabato province has confirmed its first case of COVID-19, a 46-year-old male.

The patient attended a seven-cock derby in Matina Gallera, Davao City from March 6-13, where he may have contracted the virus.

He also attended a gathering in a VIP room in Davao City with other cock handlers from Mindanao.

The patient tested positive for COVID-19 on April 6, after showing flu-like symptoms.

He is currently in stable condition and isolated at the North Cotabato isolation facility in Barangay Amas, Kidapawan City.

North Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco has ordered the intensification of contact tracing and appealed to those who conversed with the patient to come forward for assistance and potential quarantine.

Several attendees to the cockfighting derby have died while a few others have been confirmed to have acquired the virus.

Contact tracing is underway, and hospital personnel and family members of the patient are now under quarantine.

Two other cock handlers from North Cotabato with flu-like symptoms are also in isolation, with pending test results.