5th coronavirus patient in PH now in stable condition — DOH

MANILA, Philippines — The fifth patient who tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is now in stable condition, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

“Siya po ay nasa referral hospital, stable but guarded dahil meron po syang ibang karamdaman (He is still in a referral hospital and in stable condition but still being guarded because he has other illnesses),” Dr. Ma. Rosario Vergeire, assistant secretary of the DOH for public health services, announced in a press briefing on Monday.

On Saturday, the patient, a 62-year-old Filipino male with pre-existing conditions of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, was reported to be in critical condition.

He was the country’s first case of local transmission of the virus, after the DOH verified with the Bureau of Immigration that the patient had no recent travel history.

He started to experience cough with phlegm on February 25 and tested positive for the virus on March 5, according to health officials.

The man, who the DOH said frequented a Muslim prayer hall in San Juan City, sought medical consultation at a hospital in Metro Manila on March 1 and was admitted and initially diagnosed to have severe pneumonia. He is now admitted to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City.

His 59-year-old wife also later tested positive for the virus and is considered the 6th case of COVID-19 infection in the country. She was earlier reported to be in stable condition but remains at the RITM.