Four new cases of the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 were confirmed on Sunday, 8th March 2020, raising the total number of cases in the Philippines to 10.
In response, the Department of Health (DOH), together with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, has intensified their efforts in containing and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
PH Gov’t Exhausts All Efforts to Combat COVID-19
“I call on the public to continue to be vigilant and practice personal preventive measures such as proper hand hygiene, social distancing, and cough etiquette,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III stated, as cited by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
“In the meantime, let us refrain from visiting public places and/or attending mass gatherings,” he added. “DOH is exhausting all its efforts to contain the spread COVID-19.”
All of the new cases were tested on Sunday and the results were released on Sunday, the DOH reported. At present, the department is gathering more information from the respective hospitals where the patients are checked into, and investigating all the cases.
The DOH is also coordinating with the local government units (LGUs) and the Centers for Health Development concerned to intensify infection prevention and control measures.
So far, here are the details about the four latest (i.e. 7th to 10th) COVID-19 cases, based on information from PNA and GMA News:
- The 7th case is a 38-year-old Taiwanese male with no history of travel outside the country, but has a history of contact with a Taiwanese national who had visited the Philippines and tested positive for the virus in Taiwan. The patient’s symptoms began on 3rd March, and he is currently admitted at Makati Medical Center in Makati City.
- The 8th case is a 32-year-old Filipino male with history of travel to Japan within the last 14 days. His symptoms began on 5th March, and he is currently admitted at St. Luke’s Medical Center – Global in Taguig City.
- The 9th case is an 86-year-old American male with history of travel to USA and South Korea. The patient has pre-existing hypertension. His symptoms began on 1st March, and he is currently admitted at The Medical City in Pasig City.
- The 10th case is a 57-year-old Filipino male with no history of travel outside the country. He is reported to have had contact with another confirmed COVID-19 case. He is currently admitted at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City.
The Epidemiology Bureau of the DOH continues to gather and validate data regarding all of these cases, and the Department intends to share pertinent information to the public as soon as possible.
Earlier COVID-19 Cases
During an interview on Monday, 9th March, DOH Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire disclosed that the 4th to 6th cases of COVID-19 are confined in referral hospitals of the Philippine government.
These cases include:
- 4th case — a Filipino male with travel history to Japan and an employee of Deloitte Philippines, a financial firm;
- 5th case — a Filipino male who frequented a prayer hall in Greenhills, San Juan City; and
- 6th case — the wife of the 5th case.
Let us stay tuned as more information about these latest cases arise. At the same time, let us also remain calm, avoid panic, and trust only official information sources. In the meantime, here are 10 myths and facts about the novel coronavirus, for your reference.