EIGHT new samples tested at the sub-national laboratory for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City will be subjected to confirmatory tests at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Muntinlupa City.
The number of samples that need confirmation has thus increased to 16—12 from Cebu City and one each from Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Cebu Province and Negros Oriental.
As of Thursday, March 26, 2020, the sub-laboratory took 67 samples for its third round of testing. Of the number, 59 tested negative while eight were referred for confirmatory test at the RITM, according to Dr. Shelbay Blanco of the Department of Health (DOH) 7-Center for Health Development.
Three of the 50 samples taken during the first round of testing still await confirmation at RITM, while five samples from the second batch also await confirmatory results.
The DOH 7 initially said nine samples await for confirmation, but one of these was for repeat examination of the sample taken from the Mandaue City patient who was the firs+t positive Covid-19 case in Cebu.
Also on Thursday, the DOH 7 said there is no new Covid-19 case in Cebu and other provinces in Central Visayas. However, the agency recorded 89 persons with severe acute respiratory infection (Sari), and 86 of them were admitted to different hospitals. The other three persons with Sari were placed under home isolation.
There were also 839 persons with influenza-like illnesses (ILI) in the region. Of these, 34 were admitted while 805 were placed under home isolation.
The DOH 7 also recorded a total of 16, 353 persons under monitoring (PUM).Of the number, 5,350 are from Bohol; 3,219 are from Cebu Province; 5,007 are from Negros Oriental; 865 from Siquijor; 697 from Cebu City; 583 from Lapu Lapu City, and 589 from Mandaue City.
Forty-three other PUMs were endorsed to other regions.
The DOH 7 said a total of 4,936 have already completed quarantine period while 221 cases have been discharged. WBS