BREAKING: COVID-19 deaths in PH now at 17
MANILA, Philippines — Three more individuals who tested positive for the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have died, bringing the total number of deaths to 17 as of 12 noon Wednesday, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.
Among the new deaths is a 58-year-old Filipino male from Lanao del Sur who has a travel history to Malaysia, the Department of Health said on Wednesday.
The patient (PH201) died of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) secondary to COVID-19 on Tuesday morning. He was only confirmed positive of the virus on Wednesday.
A 65-year-old Filipino male from Pasig City (PH57) also died due to ARDS secondary to COVID-19 and pneumonia, the DOH said.
PH57 had a travel history to London and was confirmed positive of the respiratory disease last March 13.
The 17th COVID-19 patient who died was a 86-year-old Filipino female from San Juan City who had no travel history or exposure to a known COVID-19 case, the DOH said.
She died on Tuesday due to septic shock secondary to pneumonia, which is secondary to COVID-19. The patient was confirmed to have contracted the virus on Monday.
The DOH also recorded 15 more cases of the disease, bringing the total to 202.
Most people who have COVID-19 can recover as its symptoms are mild, such as fever and cough. But the illness can be more serious for others, possibly leading to pneumonia, especially older adults and those with existing health problems.
The World Health Organization declared the disease as a global pandemic after it killed nearly 5,000 people and infected 110,000 others worldwide.
The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses named the novel coronavirus as SARS-CoV-2.
The virus causes mild symptoms such as fever and cough for most people but can cause serious illness such as pneumonia for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems.
Coronavirus is a family of viruses, which surfaces have a crown-like appearance. The viruses are named for the spikes on their surfaces.
To address the pandemic, President Rodrigo Duterte has placed the Philippines under a state of calamity for a period of six months “unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant.”
The President has also placed the entirety of Luzon was placed under “enhanced community quarantine” starting March 17 until April 13.
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For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
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