2nd Pinay positive for virus in Hong Kong

MANILA, Philippines — Another Filipino in Hong Kong has tested positive for coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), the Philippine consulate general in Hong Kong said yesterday.

This brought to two the number of Filipinos infected with COVID-19 in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Health Department officially informed the consulate general yesterday morning that the afflicted was a 29-year-old Filipina, who has requested that her identity be kept secret.

After learning of the development, the consulate general immediately called and had a brief conversation with her to ascertain her condition.

“She is in good spirits and said she no longer has fever,” the Consulate said.

“She added that she is well taken care of but hospital visits are not allowed given that she is in isolation,” it said.

The first Filipino COVID-19 patient in Hong Kong is scheduled for release this week if her test results remain negative.

At a press conference yesterday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the department has concluded the contract tracing for persons under investigation (PUIs) related to the three Chinese nationals who became the Philippines’ confirmed cases of COVID-19.

“It seems there is no indication of group or groups that might have been exposed to the three Chinese nationals. If they got infected, we will see them in hospitals but there was none,” he noted. He said the incubation period for the virus – in the case of the three nationals – is already over.

The first confirmed case is a 38-year-old Chinese woman who recovered from COVID-19 while the second case was her partner, a 44-year-old Chinese man who died of severe pneumonia. The third case is a 60-year-old Chinese woman who also recovered.

To find those who may have come into contact with these patients – like on airplanes, fast craft, hotel, hospitals – the DOH sought the assistance of the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation Unit.

According to Duque, the contacts of the three cases who became PUIs had turned negative prompting their discharge.

Last Monday, DOH Assistant Secretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire claimed that 67 percent or 297 contacts of the Chinese couple have been tracked down. For the 3rd case, 67 percent or 172 contacts have also been traced.

Based on the DOH tracker, there were a total of 614 PUIs as of yesterday, including 510 already discharged.

The health chief reiterated that there is still no local transmission of COVID-19 in the Philippines.

“We are doing, hopefully, a lot of right things at the different levels and the country still has no report of local transmission,” he added.

One of the strategies that may have helped prevent local transmission was heightened surveillance and quarantine at the airport.

Duque said the DOH’s Epidemiology Bureau had also mobilized all of its surveillance officers and coordinated with PNP-CIDG to prevent the spread of virus in the country.

He also cited the strengthening of the laboratory capabilities of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine so that samples taken from PUIs will no longer have to be sent to Melbourne, Australia for testing.

Aside from this, hospitals were tasked to improve their infection prevention control system.

“The most important prevention measure that we promoted is frequent hand washing – not only for COVID-19 but for other diseases as well; cough etiquettes and social distancing,” he added. 

The DOH meanwhile reported that the number of PUIs reached 615 as of yesterday morning. Of the number, 548 have been discharged and 64 still confined in hospitals.

Appeal for understanding

In Tarlac, the provincial government has appealed for understanding as the 455 crew and passengers of the COVID-19-infested MV Diamond Princess cruise started the other day their 14-day quarantine at the Athletes’ Village in New Clark City in Capas.

“We all stand as Filipinos, as one. I will not be the one to turn my back on fellow Filipinos who need our help. Somehow there is a level of risk for our province, but I’ve been assured and I trust the Department of Health with its health measures in place,” Tarlac Gov. Susan Yap said at a press conference yesterday.

“I take up the challenge and I ask for the understanding of all our kababayans that this is the place (NCC) and it was proven during the first batch that they are well taken care of,” she said.

“I don’t think there is a country in this world that was prepared for this coronavirus disease outbreak. Our role in government is of course protect the citizenry whether they live here, or outside working,” she explained.

Capas Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan, for his part, asked his constituents “to pray that there will be zero COVID-19 infections and zero mortality just like the first batch.”

“We registered our objection in the first place. But considering that this is a national concern, this is emergency in nature so what we did is just to support this program of the national government that the NCC Athletes’ Village will serve as a quarantine facility,” he said.

“Capas will provide quarantine area definitely with compassion without discrimination. We will accept them with sympathy, with our prayers that after 14 days they will be cleared of COVID-19 so that they can be with their loved ones,” Catacutan added.

Some 400 policemen will secure the Athletes’ Village for the entire 14-day quarantine of the 445 Filipinos, according to Central Luzon police director Brig Gen. Rhodel Sermonia. Ding Cervantes