FOUR more individuals were listed as patients under investigation (PUI) for 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD) according to the Department of Health–Cordillera (DOH–CAR).
Doctor Amelita Pangilinan, DOH–CAR director, said PUIs, persons under monitoring (PUM) and cleared individuals in the Cordillera for 2019–nCoV ARD have reached 21.
Pangilinan added as of February 10, three out of the seven PUIs were already cleared while nine of those listed as PUMs were also cleared.
Karen Lonogan, senior health program officer of DOH-CAR, said the three were tested negative for 2019–nCoV and had completed the 14-day quarantine while the four are still under monitoring awaiting their lab results and completion of their quarantine.
“For PUMs, there are 21 PUMs as of February 10, nine were already cleared after completing the 14 day quarantine, and 12 still for monitoring and are under the 14 day quarantine,” Lonogan added.
Pangilinan added most of the 21 PUMs have cough and colds while others have sore or itchy throats, difficulty of breathing, body weakness and fever.
“The laboratory tests results turned negative for 2019-nCoV with all now in stable condition,” Pangilinan stated.
As of 12 noon of February 11, there are 261 PUI cases currently admitted in various health facilities, while 48 PUIs have been discharged under strict monitoring in the country.
Some 109 PUIs have tested negative and three tested positive for the 2019-nCoV. There are 202 cases pending test results from RITM.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the DOH is seeing a rapid increase in the transmission rate of the virus globally. In response, DOH has strengthened its capacity in preparation for the possibility of local transmission.
“All DOH hospitals are equipped to cater to the influx of patients and are following strict infection control protocols to contain the virus,” Duque added.
As of February 9, the Epidemiology Bureau, together with the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group(PNP-CIDG), has identified all 441 contacts of the first and second case of 2019-nCoV ARD.
Regarding the third confirmed case, a total of 224 (56 percent) out of 403 contacts were traced, including co-passengers and individual contacts from hotels and hospitals.
At percent, 147 (66 percent) contacts have been interviewed and were placed on home quarantine, eight symptomatic contacts have been categorized as PUIs and are admitted for isolation and monitoring.
“We remind the public to continue practicing proper hand hygiene, drinking lots of fluids, staying away from crowded areas, practice a healthy lifestyle and to immediately seek medical assistance from health officials, aside from continuously monitoring official medical updates on the 2019-nCoVARD from the World Health Organization, Center for Disease Control and our very own health department to be guided accordingly,” Pangilinan added.