ILOILO City –A Philippine Army soldier from Tapaz, Capiz was found infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to Major Alexander Zapanta, chief medical doctor of the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID).
Zapanta said the Army trooper, with the rank Private First Class, was asymptomatic and confined at the Roxas City Memorial Hospital.
Before he went home, the 23-year-old soldier, according to Zapanta, visited the Victoriano Luna General Hospital in Quezon City for a supposed surgery in June but there was no available schedule.
On July 10, he went to the headquarters of his mother unit 62nd Infantry Battalion in Isabela, Negros Occidental to follow up his loan.
It was on July 22 when he visited a private hospital for a surgery, where he was first subjected to reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test as part of the requirements.
The result came out on July 30.
“After learning that he was infected with the virus, we took him from his house in Tapaz and brought him to the hospital,” said Zapanta.
Eight of his colleagues who came in contact with the infected solider have been isolated in a 3ID quarantine facility after undergoing rapid antibody test.
Major Cenon Pancito III, 3ID spokesperson, confirmed that the eight soldiers were tested negative.
“Despite the result, these eight soldiers are still in the facility to finish their quarantine period,” said Pancito./PN
