Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 4) — One Filipino quarantined at the New Clark City, who is exhibiting symptoms not commonly linked to coronavirus, was sent to the hospital to be checked for the highly-infectious disease.
Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Wednesday said one Filipino from the coronavirus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship is experiencing diarrhea — one of the unusual symptoms of COVID-19 infection caused by the novel coronavirus.
“Mayroong dinala doon na bago, ngayon ay inoobserbahan at kinuhanan na ng specimen,” she said in a media briefing.
The health official said the 15 others who showed symptoms, such as fever, cough, and sore throat, have all tested negative for coronavirus and have been sent back from the hospital to the Athletes’ Village in New Clark City to complete their 14-day quarantine until March 11.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said they are testing repatriates who show even mild symptoms so they can immediately identify cases.
“Inubo lang — kahit walang lagnat — sa NCC, nilalagay na agad (sa ospital). The key is always early detection. We don’t want people to slide down into the critical conditions,” he said.
Meanwhile, of the 80 Filipinos who tested positive for coronavirus while the cruise ship was docked in Japan, 40 have recovered and were already released. Of this number, 21 have returned to the Philippines and are under strict monitoring. Vergeire added that 19 other Filipinos are being processed for repatriation while 40 remain in hospitals in Japan.
She said that no Filipinos are left inside the cruise ship, but 11 asked to stay behind to finish some work. One Filipino was brought to the hospital, but not due to coronavirus-linked symptoms.
