Those under watch will soon be called “confirmed,” “suspect” and “probable” cases.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 11) — The Department of Health announced on Saturday it will stop using the terms “patients under investigation” and “patients under monitoring” to categorize COVID-19 cases.
Persons under monitoring or PUMs — individuals who have come in contact with a confirmed case, or have traveled to a country or territory with local transmission of COVID-19 but are asymptomatic — are not included in the new classification.
The DOH said it will classify people who tested positive for COVID-19 as confirmed cases.
Individuals who show symptoms of influenza-like illness such as fever and dry cough, those with travel history to areas with confirmed local transmission of COVID-19, and people with exposure to a confirmed case will be categorized as suspect cases.
Elderly people (60 years old and above), women with high-risk pregnancy, immunocompromised persons or those with weakened immune system and health care workers who experience fever, cough or difficulty in breathing, and people with lung diseases of unknown cause will also be considered as suspect cases.
These are the groups thought to be at higher risk of infection or have a higher percentage of fatalities.
The DOH explained its adjusted lexicon intends to provide uniform reporting of data on COVID-19 cases.
COVID-19 is a disease caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, which is related to the virus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
Health authorities urge the public to practice preventive measures such as frequent hand washing with soap, covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and maintaining physical distance.
Suspect cases who are awaiting COVID-19 test results, who are not yet tested, or whose throat and nasal swabs were examined in an unaccredited testing facility could be called probable cases.
