THE Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) is monitoring one patient under investigation (PUI) for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) as of Sunday, March 8.
Ricardo Audan, SPMC chief of Clinics and Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB) coordinator, said Sunday they are just waiting for the result of the PUI who is an Australian national.
The patient was referred to their facility by a private hospital.
Audan said they initially had two PUIs last Saturday, March 7, 2020, but the other patient, who is a Filipino, was released after tested negative from the highly-infectious disease later that day.
President Rodrigo Duterte has agreed to place the country under a State of Public Health Emergency following following the confirmation of local Covid-19 transmission.
Under a State of Public Health Emergency, the government will facilitate mobilization of resources, ease processes, including procurement of critical logistics and supplies, and intensifying reporting.
The declaration facilitates immediate access to funding, particularly the LGUs. Under Republic Act (RA) 10121, such declaration allows the LGUs to utilize their local disaster risk reduction management funds (LDRRMF).
The declaration also eases processes on mandatory reporting, mandatory quarantine and travel restrictions, among others, as well as serves as basis for price freeze under RA 7581 or the Price Act.
The Department of Health (DOH) has raised Code Red sub-level 1 after three new confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been reported in the country.
The fifth and sixth cases, who are a couple, are considered cases of local transmission because they have no history of travel.
DOH said that Code Red is a preemptive call to ensure that the national and local governments and public and private health care providers can prepare for the possible increase in suspected and confirmed cases.
In the wake of the confirmation of localized transmission in the country, Audan said SPMC will be having a meeting Monday, March 9, 2020, to lay out measures to be taken to prevent the risk of coronavirus transmission in the region now that the DOH has declared Code Red.
“Naka-Code Red so most probably magiging istrikto na din kami sa mga watchers that come in, come out (the hospital),” Audan said.
He said the management will limit the number of watchers of their patients and discourage convergence of patient’s relatives within their facility as part of precautionary measures.
Likewise, SPMC will strengthen their safety awareness campaign to prevent further Covid-19 transmission.
DOH has been reminding the public to practice personal protective measures such as hand hygiene, social distancing, and proper cough etiquette.
The health officials also discouraged unnecessary travel and postpone mass gatherings.
“It is our individual responsibility to protect ourselves and the people around us. Only through collective action in our communities will we be able to limit the spread of the virus,” the DOH said.