Manila City records 24 PUIs for coronavirus

MANILA, Philippines — The City of Manila has recorded a total of 24 patients under investigations (PUIs) for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as of Thursday morning, higher than the 18 patients reported on Wednesday night.

In a Facebook live, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said another two individuals earlier categorized as PUIs have tested negative for the disease. He said the information was based on the 8:30 a.m. data of the city’s health office.

According to the decision tool of the Department of Health on COVID-19 as of February 26, those considered PUIs are individuals who have travel history in the past 14 days in areas with issued travel restrictions or have a history of exposure to a person who tested positive for the disease, and are experiencing symptoms of infection.

The mayor also announced that the local government has procured additional 400 personal protective equipment for its frontliners. Another 48 High Efficiency Particulate Air filters were also delivered to the city and that will be distributed in different public hospitals.

A total of 491 rooms from hotels and motels are also now available to house health frontliners.

Meanwhile, Moreno also announced that the local government has waived the rental fees of all stalls in the city’s 17 public markets.

COVID-19, which was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), is caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. The virus is related to that which causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome but is not as deadly, with only around three percent mortality rate.

WHO said 80 percent of patients experience mild illness and eventually recover from the disease, while some 14 percent experience severe illness and five percent were critically ill.

The virus is spread through small droplets from the nose or mouth when those infected cough or sneeze. Health authorities have urged the public to practice frequent hand washing, cover their mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and avoid close contact with those exhibiting respiratory symptoms to prevent infection.