CDO investigates release of first Omicron BA.5 patient sans negative test

Cagayan de Oro City's Health Office (CHO) is investigating why the first Omicron subvariant BA.5 patient was released without proof of a negative test.

The 38-year-old male seafarer, who had traveled to Egypt and Manila, tested positive in Makati on March 19 and was later confirmed with BA.5 on June 13.

CHO personnel started contact tracing after receiving the report on June 17; however, the patient was already released by Bugo's Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT) without confirmation of his positive status.

The CHO medical officer stated they would wait for their investigation team’s recommendations before taking legal action against BHERT.