Three referral hospitals for nCoV cases in Bicol
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 7) – The Department of Health is asking people suspected of being sick with the novel coronavirus to follow health authorities’ advise to get hospital treatment to prevent the spread of infection.
“I urge everyone, including the persons or patients under investigation, to please cooperate with the DOH in its effort to contain the new virus. Let us do our part in keeping the threat of the 2019-nCoV at bay,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III told CNN Philippines’ New Day on Friday.
Ten of the 178 persons under investigation or PUIs as of Thursday refused to be admitted, the health official reported. Of the total, 147 are currently admitted and getting treatment in hospitals, he said.
Duque added 48 PUIs have already tested negative for the 2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease, but they are still being “strictly” monitored. The number of confirmed cases of the new viral illness in the Philippines remains at three, including one who died of the disease.
The top health official added the department is still awaiting the test results for coronavirus of 127 PUIs.
The people under investigation are those who exhibit the red flag symptoms of the 2019-nCoV ARD such as fever, respiratory infection (cough or colds), have travel history to or lived in Wuhan – the Chinese city at the epicenter of the new coronavirus outbreak, or who work in a healthcare facility and had close contact with a confirmed case, according to the World Health Organization’s guidelines. Scientists have yet to identify the exact clinical manifestations and seriousness of the acute respiratory disease as they establish more facts about it.
Meanwhile, regional health authorities in Bicol have identified three hospitals that will admit patients infected by 2019-nCov in their region. The region has no confirmed case of novel coronavirus but officials are readying facilities in case they are needed.
According to the tally of Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering, which follows cases across the world, the global death toll from 2019-nCoV has risen to 638, mostly in China. Two fatalities were reported outside of the mainland of the world’s most populous country in Hong Kong and the Philippines. The 2019-nCoV disease has also afflicted more than 31,000 people, the tracker showed. The number includes the youngest case, a 30-hour old baby from Wuhan City, CNN reported Thursday.
These are the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital in Daraga, Albay; Bicol Medical Center in Naga City, Camarines Sur and the Bicol Sanitarium in Cabusao, Camarines Sur.
DOH Bicol Director Dr Ernie Vera said the training hospital in Legazpi City will cater to patients coming from the provinces of Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate and Catanduanes; the BMC in Naga City for Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte, while the Bicol Sanitarium is a reserved facility for serious conditions.
