Philippines COVID cases hit 111; deaths reach 8

MANILA, Philippines — The number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the country breached 100 as the Department of Health (DOH) documented 47 new cases yesterday, bringing the total to 111.

Fatalities, meanwhile, rose to eight following the death of three patients, including a 54-year-old Filipino male from Lanao del Sur who had no history of travel abroad or exposure to an infected person. 

Known as PH40 or patient No. 40, the victim manifested symptoms last Feb. 24 and tested positive last March 11.  He was confined at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center.

“Patient PH40 expired late evening of March 13 from acute respiratory distress syndrome due to severe pneumonia with concomitant acute kidney injury,” the DOH said.

The DOH had also confirmed the announcement of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Medical Center in San Fernando, Pampanga that a patient had died there.

One of the cases reportedly confirmed involved a vacationing overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from Manabo, Abra. 

Gov. Joy Bernos said the case was the first in the province. The infected OFW arrived from the United Arab Emirates last March 8.

According to Health Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire, they were still validating the details of the 34 new cases. 

“Now it is our turn to do our part in mitigating the spread of the disease. The DOH earnestly asks for everyone’s cooperation,” she said.

“Frontline health workers and medical personnel are risking their safety to respond to the needs of the public, all we ask is for you to do your part: practice preventive measures, go on strict home quarantine if you are experiencing mild symptoms and help halt the spread of fake news,” she added.

“The success of our measures to contain COVID-19 is hinged on your participation. We will get through this together,” she said in a virtual press conference.

Asked about reports that the fatality rate of COVID-19 in the country is high, Vergeire maintained there was no basis for such claim.

“If you look at our overall cases, you cannot say that our death rate is high although, of course, one death is too many and its impact is huge for our people,” she added.

The official claimed that a majority of patients in critical condition are those with underlying illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, cancer and those who are immuno-compromised.

“At this most trying time, our strongest weapon as a nation is vigilance, preparedness and solidarity,” she pointed out.

“We are seeing these values at play now as DOH is receiving an influx of support from individuals and organizations who are willing to render assistance in any way they can. Let this be a reminder for all Filipinos to step up to the plate and heed the call for cooperation,” she added.

Downscaled operations

As the number of infected individuals rose, the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City had to downscale its services after several of its health personnel were exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case.

PH37 or patient 37 is an 88-year-old Filipino female from Pasig City who had no history of travel abroad or exposure to the virus. She was admitted at PHC last March 6 and tested positive for COVID-19 five days later. She died last March 12.

“Prior to the confirmation of PH37’s diagnosis, healthcare workers were managing the case as a non-communicable case and were unable to wear the required personal protective equipment (PPE),” the DOH added.

PHC has 13 patients under investigation (PUIs) – 12 health workers and one non-health person.

PHC sent home yesterday four patients under monitoring (PUMs) yesterday who were previously quarantined in a restricted area in the hospital, while an additional six PUMs are still quarantined at the facility.

Furthermore, the Rizal Medical Center in Pasig City has also reported several health workers being exposed to the COVID-19 virus.

The DOH is still verifying data on the exact figures and the updated conditions of the health workers.

“I assure our health workers that you have the full support of the whole department as we go through this ordeal together. I commend the commitment of our health workers who, amidst the risks they are currently facing, are still serving and saving the lives of our kababayans,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.

He reiterated the DOH’s “commitment to safeguard the health and well-being of our healthcare workers remains to be our priority.”

The DOH also advised all travelers coming from the National Capital Region (NCR) who are without symptoms to undergo strict home quarantine for 14 days. Travelers from NCR who are out of the region will be considered as PUMs.

On the other hand, travelers from Metro Manila with fever and or any respiratory symptoms will be considered as PUIs and are advised to seek medical attention at a health facility.

Duque reminded the public that all land, domestic sea and domestic air travel to and from Metro Manila is suspended beginning today.

Residents of Metro Manila are advised to stay home and avoid unnecessary movements within the area.

“Let us cooperate with our healthcare workers and local government authorities to stop the spread of this disease to other communities,” he added. 

Community transmission

As the Philippines gears up for the today’s implementation of the “community quarantine” in Metro Manila, Duque admitted yesterday that “sustained community transmission” of COVID-19 in the country is shaping up.

But according to Duque, they could not ascertain whether or not there is “sustained community transmission or continuing human-to-human” spread of the virus yet in the country.

He noted the DOH is doing risk assessments on a daily basis to determine developments in COVID-19 infections in the country.

“We cannot say there is none with certainty because we do not know the exact number of cases but we can see that the exponential growth is fast. It seems we are going there soon and it’s going to be very quick,” he said at a press conference after the emergency meeting of Metro Manila Council yesterday.

Community transmission means there are unrelated and unlinkable clusters of cases in different places and, at the same time, simultaneous transmissions are going on.

This as Duque reported that the DOH received 500 rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits from South Korea last Saturday and another 1,000 sets are coming soon. China is also donating around 2,000 testing kits.

The health chief added that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been directed to speed up the evaluation of the testing kits to establish their accuracy before they are used in the country.

Currently, the DOH’s Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) is using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology in testing suspected cases of COVID-19. It takes 24 to 48 hours before the results become available. On the other hand, test results in RDT kits come out in two to three hours.

Duque said the RDT will strengthen the testing capability of the RITM and the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Health, recently tapped to help in testing prospective cases of COVID-19.

“These RDT are not like pregnancy test kits.  There is a machine where we run the specimens using chemicals to get the ‘fingerprint’ of the virus to make sure (that it is really COVID-19),” he added.  – Raymund Catindig, Cecille Suerte-Felipe, Artemio Dumla, Rudy Santos