DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Only one person left is being monitored for possible infection for COVID-19 (corona virus disease 2019) in the Davao region, the Department of Health (DOH)-Region 11 said on Monday (Feb. 17).
In a phone interview, Dr. Annabelle Yumang, regional director for DOH-11 told Davao Today that the test result for the remaining patient under investigation (PUI) from the Regional Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) is expected to be released within the week.
“If tested negative — and already (the patient has) stopped showing symptoms for the past days — the patient may also be discharged,” she said
Yumang said that two other patients were discharged from the hospital over the weekend.
Since January, the region has a total of 23 PUIs for COVID-19.
Yumang added that there has been no new admitted PUIs since last Friday.
The health official, however, said that they will continue their monitoring on those who traveled from China and other countries with confirmed cases of COVID-19.
As of 12NN on Monday, DOH revealed that 453 PUIs nationwide have tested for COVID-19, while 22 cases have pending test results.
A total of 171 PUIs, meanwhile, are still admitted in various health facilities, the DOH added.
Despite a decreasing number of admitted PUIs across the country, Health Sec. Francisco Duque III said that the DOH remains vigilant on the possibility of local transmission of the virus.
“We cannot underscore more the importance of regular hand-washing and observance of cough etiquette to prevent the spread of the COVID-19,” Duque said.
“I urge all our kababayans to continuously cooperate with the Department of Health to keep the risk of this new disease at bay,” he added. (davaotoday.com)
