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By APD writer Melo M. Acuña
MANILA, Feb. (APD) – The Department of Health reported 215 PUIs (Patients Under Investigation) with three confirmed cases as of midday today.
In a press briefing early Friday afternoon, the DOH said the substantial increase in the number of PUIs is due to the strengthened surveillance system and contact tracing of the Epidemiology Bureau and the expansion of PUI coverage to the whole of China.
With 184 confined to hospitals, nine persons refused admission while 17 have been discharged under strict monitoring. Two died of other causes as the first PUI death was a case of pneumonia “in an immunocompromised patient” while the second PUI death was a case of pneumonia in a patient “with underlying restrictive lung disease.”
“We are urging everyone, especially the PUIs who refused admission, to cooperate with the Department of Health, their Local Government Units (LGUs) and the Philippine National Police (PNP). It is our duty as citizens of this nation to assist in protecting the health of our fellowmen,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said.
They are coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the concerned Embassies on foreign nationals who refuse hospital admission.
Meanwhile, as of yesterday, the Epidemiology Bureau along with the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group identified all 441 contacts of the 1st and 2nd case of 2019-nCOV ARV.
From this number, 379 were passengers and crew from flights taken by the confirmed cases while 62 contacts were from hotels/resorts, hospitals, public vehicles and other places visited by the confirmed cases.
From the numbers reached, 203 were placed on home quarantine while 32 contacts exhibiting symptoms were categorized as PUIs. The remaining 206 have yet to be interviewed due to erroneous contact details.
With the release of the laboratory results of the 3rd confirmed case, the Epidemiological Bureau initiated contact tracing. As of today, 106 contacts were traced including all the 90 co-passengers and 16 individuals from hotels and hospitals in contact with the 3rd confirmed case. Twenty-two (22) contacts have been interviewed and were placed on home quarantine and four symptomatic contacts have been considered PUIs.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Health Cluster has been scheduled to meet and discuss developments and further steps on the management of the 2019-nCOV ARD. With most PUIs currently admitted and isolated, stricter infection control measures are being enforced in hospitals with PUIs and the Department of Health has vigorously coordinated with the Bureau of Quarantine in pursuit of contact tracing. The Department of Health is in touch with the Department of Foreign Affairs and foreign Embassies whose nationals refuse hospital admission.
Meantime, the Inter-agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases has finalized protocols and procedures to be implemented in the repatriation of Overseas Filipinos (OFs) coming from Hubei Province, China. Asymptomatic repatriates shall be quarantined at the New Clark City while symptomatic patients shall be admitted as patients under investigation (PUIs) at identified hospitals.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
