Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May ) — A COVID-19 survivor from General Santos City has tested positive again for the virus.
In an advisory on Monday, the Department of Health-Soccsksargen said that a former COVID-19 patient yielded another positive result after a repeat test last April 28, ten days after recovering from the virus.
The local government of General Santos City made a similar announcement on Facebook and cited a previous advisory from the DOH that the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test may have detected remnants of the dead virus.
However, this does not necessarily mean that the patient is infectious, the DOH clarified.
The patient, a 59-year-old male (PH 3669), is stable and is on a strict 14-day home quarantine, the DOH said. He is awaiting results after a repeat swabbing has been done for the fourth time.
“In the meantime, we urge the public to observe preventive measures such as regular handwashing, use of face masks, social distancing, and other preventive measures set by your respective local government units,” the DOH said.
PH 3669 first tested positive for the virus last April 7 after attending a cockpit fight in Davao City. He was the 11th confirmed case in Soccsksargen, according to previous reports.
The Philippines has 9,485 COVID-19 cases to date, with 1,315 recoveries and 623 deaths.
Stringer Roland Ortillano contributed to this report.
