THE condition of the 54-year-old Filipino man who tested positive for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has worsened, according to Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) Chief Jose Chan.

"Mas serious (ang condition niya) karon kaysa kagahapon," Chan said in a press conference at the City Mayor's Office on Friday, March 13.

The 54-year-old patient is confined in an isolation room in the NMMC. He is one of the 16 patients who tested positive on March 11.

"We could help the brave and passionate health workers by showing our support through kind words and motivating them to sustain their energy and enthusiasm in giving quality health services," Department of Health (DOH)-Northern Mindanao Director Adriano Suba-an said.

As of Thursday, March 12, the Department of Health (DOH) has recorded a total of 52 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the country.

Of the 52, 45 are currently admitted, two have fully recovered and five have died.

In Northern Mindanao, a total of 25 patients under investigation have been recorded since January 22.

Four are currently admitted at the NMMC, including the Covid-19 patient. The other three were diagnosed with Severe Acute Respiratory Infection.

The remaining 18 tested negative and have been discharged. All tests were performed by the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City.

"Currently, the DOH CHDNM has deployed surveillance teams, and are conducting extensive information gathering and contact tracing activity on the positive case," Suba-an said.

On March 12, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation to raise the alert level for Covid-19 to Code Red sub-level 2.

"The DOH has always been consistent in our advocacies and advisories on the most important and basic actions to do by our population which include personal hygiene, like proper cough etiquette, regular hand washing, wearing of mask of those with respiratory illness, and especially on social distancing," Suba-an said.