No New Covid-19 Cases in PH For 4 Weeks

The Philippines has not recorded instances of local transmission and new cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) for four weeks, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III reported Wednesday.

“Sa katunayan, four weeks na tayong walang bagong kaso (In fact, it has been four weeks that we don’t have a new case). With a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, we can sustain our gains in containing the spread of the disease,” Duque said in a press briefing at the Department of Health main office.

Latest data from the agency’s tracker showed that there are only 39 patients under investigation (PUIs) admitted in different health facilities nationwide while 620 PUIs have been discharged for testing negative for Covid-19.

DOH Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said 16 repatriates quarantined at the New Clark City (NCC) in Capas, Tarlac have experienced signs and symptoms of respiratory illness and were sent to the referral hospitals.

“But 15 have returned to the NCC because their tests turned out negative and they no longer have the symptoms. One — the 16th — was sent to the referral hospital due to diarrhea,” Vergeire said.

Vergeire also reported that 40 of the 80 Filipinos who tested positive for Covid-19 infection have fully recovered while the remaining 40 were admitted in different health facilities in Tokyo.

“Among those 40 who have recovered, 21 were able to go back to the Philippines and the remaining 19 are still waiting to be processed for repatriation,” she said.

To stop the spread of fake news about new cases of the disease in the country, Duque urged the public to avoid sharing social media posts from unverified sources.

“Nakikiusap po ako sa ating mga kababayan na ‘wag po tayo magpagamit sa pagpapalaganap ng fake news, siguruhin ninyo na galing sa DOH at World Health Organization [WHO] ang pieces of information na nasa inyo (I ask our fellowmen to keep yourselves from being carriers of fake news, make sure that the pieces of information you have are from the DOH and the WHO),” he said.

Duque also encouraged the public to focus on the practice of proper cough etiquette and handwashing instead of reading and sharing fake news. (PNA)