APD | Department of Health says 80 patients under investigation for 2019-nCOV ARD

By APD writer Melo M. Acuña

MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 80 patients under investigation for the 2019-nCOV Acute Respiratory Disease as of midday today.

In a statement, the DOH said of the 80 patients under investigation, 67 have been admitted and isolated although 10 have been discharged under strict monitoring. It said one person died with a negative result and two confirmed cases where one mortality.

“The substantial increase in the number of PUIs is due to the strengthened surveillance system and contact tracing of the Epidemiology Bureau. We have also expanded the PUI category coverage to the whole of China, following the recent imposition of the travel ban to the mainland China, including Hong Kong and Macau,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.

As of today, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), also confirmed that 30 PUIs have tested negative for 2019-nCOV, while two have tested positive with 48 results pending.

DOH said they still call on the citizens to practice prevention measures including proper handwashing, observance of cough etiquette and maintaining healthy lifestyles for added resistance against infections.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)