MANILA, Philippines — The number of persons under investigation (PUIs) for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country appears to be on a decline, according to the latest Department of Health (DOH) report.
Based on the DOH report released yesterday, only two individuals were added to the list of recorded PUIs nationwide over the weekend, bringing the total to 608.
Of this total, 474 PUIs have already been discharged while 131 remain admitted in different health facilities, the DOH said.
It noted that as of last Saturday, 495 PUIs have tested negative for the virus while 55 await the laboratory results.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reminded the public anew to frequently wash their hands as a precautionary measure against COVID-19 and other potentially deadly infections.
“Never underestimate the power of the humble bar of soap. Washing your hands regularly is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself and others from COVID and many other diseases,” WHO said.
WHO advised the public to wash their hands either with alcohol-based rub or ordinary soap and water before eating, after toilet use, when hands are visibly dirty, and after handling animals.
Health authorities also stressed the need for people to wash their hands before, during and after preparing food.
‘Protect seamen’
The biggest labor group in the country yesterday sought the adoption of anti-virus protocols on board passenger and cargo vessels for the protection of Filipino seafarers.
Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) president Raymond Mendoza said the first-ever anti-virus protocol is necessary, following the spread of COVID-19 aboard the cruise ship Diamond Princess in Yokohama, Japan.
Over 500 crewmembers of the ship are Filipinos.
“There’s an immediate need for our seamen and seawomen to be trained and equipped with a standard protocol and procedures in dealing with and responding to threats from coronavirus and other infectious diseases on board ship,” Mendoza said in a statement.
He said the TUCP will call for a tripartite technical working group meeting among workers, government and maritime industry players to discuss the adoption of a protocol to help minimize the spread of the disease among crew and passengers.
Repatriates still being monitored
Meanwhile, the DOH said it will continue monitoring the condition of Filipinos repatriated from Wuhan even weeks after their release from quarantine.
“We will still monitor them. We will still follow up on them. In the event that they experience any symptoms (of COVID-19), we want to know,” Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a televised interview.
Vergeire said that aside from the 30 Filipinos from Wuhan, the DOH will also continue to monitor the health of five DOH medical team members, five Department of Foreign Affairs response team members, six airline crewmembers, and three ground personnel involved in processing their return.
The WHO has not ruled out the possibility that PUIs previously testing negative for COVID-19 may later turn up infected.
Vergeire said this event was seen in other countries and is the reason why the DOH needs to continue monitoring Filipino repatriates and their contacts.