DOH confirms 3 new deaths in PH due to coronavirus

This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. (NIAID-RML via AP)

MANILA, Philippines – Three more patients who tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have died, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed on Thursday.

This brings the number of fatalities in the country due to COVID-19 to five.

Those who died are the sixth patient who tested positive for the disease or “PH6,” the fifth patient or “PH5,” and the 37th patient or “PH37,” according to a statement from the DOH.

“PH6,” a 59-year-old Filipina, was initially admitted at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City on March 5 and was later transferred to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Muntinlupa City.

DOH said she suddenly experienced difficulty in breathing and was intubated late evening on Wednesday.

“She expired the same night from acute respiratory distress syndrome due to severe pneumonia secondary to COVID-19. Repeat chest x-ray showed progressive pneumonia. “PH6” is a known diabetic,” said the DOH.

The woman began showing symptoms on February 27 and tested positive for infection on March 6, based on records from the health department.

“PH5,” a 62-year-old Filipino and is the husband of “PH6” died Thursday morning due to acute respiratory distress syndrome from severe pneumonia secondary to COVID-19. He was also admitted at RITM.

He had diabetes, hypertension, and acute kidney injury, according to DOH. He began showing symptoms on February 25 and tested positive for COVID-19 on March 5.

Both “PH5” and “PH6” are residents of Rizal.

Meanwhile, “PH37,” an 88-year-old Filipina was admitted on March 6 at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City, after experiencing symptoms of the disease on February 28.

She tested positive for the infection on March 11 and was reported to have had hypertension prior to contracting the virus. The woman, a resident of Pasig City, died Thursday afternoon due to acute respiratory failure, according to the health agency.

Two individuals who earlier died in the country after being tested positive for the disease are the 44-year-old Chinese man from China’s Wuhan City who died on February 1, and the 67-year-old Filipina who died also on Wednesday.

Edited by JPV