nCoV Patients in the Philippines Jump to 80, DOH Says
The Department of Health reported that the number of novel coronavirus nCoV patients in the Philippines has jumped to 80.
As of yesterday (February 3, 2020), the number of patients being monitored for possible 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease has already climbed to 80 from only 36 on Sunday (February 2).
Eight patients from the total figure were believed to have had close contact with the Chinese woman with the first case of coronavirus in the Philippines. They were also a part of 74 people who have come into contact with the 43-year-old Chinese fatality from Wuhan, China.
The eight have been already placed under quarantine while the other 66 have been advised by the Health Department to observe home quarantine for 14 days. These eight are hotel staff and passengers, according to DOH Epidemiology Bureau director Ferchito Avelino.
The 43-year-old man from Hubei, China is the first fatality in the Philippines and second outside China. His 38-year-old partner was the first nCoV patient recorded in the country. The couple shows symptoms of cough and fever.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that the Epidemiology Bureau conducted contact tracing and strengthened the surveillance system in the country. The Epidemiology Bureau noted a substantial increase in the number of people under investigation.
“We have also expanded the PUI category coverage to the whole of China, following the recent imposition of travel ban to mainland China, including Hong Kong and Macau,” Duque said.
The Health Department also shows data enumerating the numbers of patients from different areas:
- Metro Manila – 27
- Central Luzon – 15
- Central Visayas – 11
- Northern Mindanao – 5
- Davao – 5
- Mimaropa – 4
- Cagayan Valley – 1
- Ilocos – 1
- Eastern Visayas – 1
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