5th coronavirus case: DOH mum on report person once hospitalized in San Juan

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday declined to confirm that the person who is now the fifth case of COVID-19 in the Philippines was once admitted to Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan.

“We cannot give that information. We will keep it at that, you have to respect that,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in a press conference after a reporter asked about messages circulating online that the patient was first seen at the San Juan-based hospital.

Earlier, the country’s health department announced the fifth confirmed case of the deadly disease, which is also the second new case, involved a 62-year-old man who is currently suffering from severe pneumonia.

On reports that the fifth case is a vendor in a shopping center in San Juan, Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said: “They have no information on that.”

The first new case involved another 48-year-old Filipino who is currently under stable condition and is admitted to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine along with the 62-year-old man.

For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.

The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link.