Patients Being Investigated for CoVid-19 Now Down to 43: DOH

Patients under investigation (PUIs) for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) admitted in various health facilities are now down to 43, a health official reported Monday.

This brings the number of discharged PUIs for Covid-19 up to 592 from 588 as of Friday.

“The Department of Health (DOH) reported that as of twelve (Monday) noon, there are now only 43 patients PUIs admitted in various health facilities,” Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press conference at the DOH main office.

Vergerie said the reduction may be attributed to the government’s strengthened surveillance, early travel restrictions, and enhanced laboratory processes.

She also reported that 14 quarantined individuals at the New Clark City (NCC) showed signs and symptoms of respiratory illnesses like sore throat, cough and fever.

“Among the 14 PUIs, 10 tested negative for Covid-19 while 4 are with pending laboratory results. Walo ang di-discharge from our referral hospitals sa sampung nag-test negative at ibabalik sila sa NCC para ituloy nila ang kanilang (Eight will be discharged from our referral hospitals among the 10 who tested negative and they will be returned to NCC to continue their) quarantine,” she said.

As the World Health Organization raised its risk assessment on the Covid-19 to “very high” at the regional and global levels, Vergeire said the DOH is adapting its contingency plans.

To date, the DOH said a total of 86 overseas Filipinos (OFs) have so far tested positive for coronavirus with 80 of them, including 32 discharged patients, recorded in Japan and two cases reported each in United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and Singapore.

The most recent case was a 41-year old Filipina who was admitted to a health facility in Singapore.

“Wala pang formal requests for repatriation, pero may mga tawag from other Filipinos overseas signifying interest to go home, kumokontak sa Department of Foreign Affairs [DFA], so, aayusin pa po iyan bago mag-decide ang inter-agency task force sa isa pang (There are no formal requests for repatriation, but there are calls from other Filipinos overseas signifying interest to go home, contacting DFA, so, that will be finalized before the task force decide on another) repatriation,” she added. (PNA)