Palawan reports 6 more persons under observation for COVID-19

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — Palawan has added six more persons under investigation (PUIs) for COVID-19. To date, a total of nine PUIs have been admitted to different hospitals throughout the province.

Coron town health officer Dr. Allan Guintapan said PUI30 and PUI31 were municipal councilors, who attended the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) last February.

PUI29 is a 22-year-old female with no travel history. The three PUIs were admitted at Culion Sanitarium in northeast Palawan.

Meanwhile, Romalyn Racho, regional head of Health Education and Promotion Unit of the Department of Health (DOH), said PUI26 is a 50-year-old Australian male with travel history in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Thailand. He is currently isolated in a government hospital in southern Palawan.

PUI27 is a 48-year-old female who traveled in Singapore, while PUI28 is a 26-year-old Australian male. Both were admitted to a government hospital in Puerto Princesa City.

“Five specimens where delivered to Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and another 1 will be sent this evening. We can expect results within 24 to 48 hours upon arrival of specimen to RITM,” Racho said.

Meanwhile, PUI16, who tested negative for COVID-19, was discharged Saturday.

PUI19 and PUI20, who were isolated in a government hospital in the city, are still awaiting test results.

The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 a pandemic as it has infected more than 150,000 people and killed over 5,000 all over the world. The Philippines has so far confirmed 111 people with COVID-19, including eight deaths.

President Rodrigo Duterte has declared a state of public health emergency throughout the country and placed the entire Metro Manila under “community quarantine” from March 15 to April 14, 2020, due to COVID-19.