COVID-19 cases near 500 in PH, deaths now at 33

The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed on Monday that eight more patients had died of COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 33, as the total number of infections in the country neared 500 in just two weeks.

All of the eight patients who have died had preexisting ailments, such as hypertension, diabetes and kidney disease, and six were elderly, the DOH said.

All but one had their results for the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 to return positive after their deaths.

Eight days late

For instance, the test results of Patient 328, a 74-year-old man from Quezon City, came out positive for the virus only on Saturday, or eight days after he died. The patient, who had hypertension and kidney disease, died of acute respiratory failure secondary to community-acquired pneumonia.

It also took four days after the death of Patient 349, a 56-year-old man from Parañaque City, and Patient 279, a 73-year-old man from San Juan City, for their families to find out that their loved ones had contracted the virus.

The test results for Patients 281, 266, 304 and 333 came back positive either a day before or on the day they died.

Only Patient 367 knew he had COVID-19 a day before he died on Sunday. The 78-year-old man from Parañaque died of acute respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock and community-acquired pneumonia. He also suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

It was unclear whether the new deaths included the three doctors who had contracted the coronavirus while attending to patients.

Malacañang urged the public to pray for the three doctors and other health workers caring for coronavirus patients.

Earlier, health officials said it was crucial for the elderly, those with preexisting ailments and immunocompromised, to have themselves checked for the coronavirus, especially if they recently traveled abroad or had been exposed to a confirmed case since they are the most vulnerable.

Early detection

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Monday said that while the DOH had yet to determine the factors that contributed to the recent recovery of four elderly patients, early detection and treatment were key.

“In whatever disease, early detection is always a factor for successful [case] management, for a patient to recover. We’re still studying the common factors among the 18 patients who have recovered. We will inform [the public] once we have gathered all information we have to know about recoveries,” she said.

Given the increasing number of coronavirus deaths, Vergeire said the DOH would issue within the week guidelines for funeral parlors and crematoriums, especially since there were reports that some had refused to handle the bodies of patients.

She stressed though that because of the Luzon quarantine, wakes were prohibited because these were considered mass gatherings.

“We appeal to the families of the deceased not to hold wakes so that people would not congregate in one place and interact since it increases the risk of transmission [of the virus],” she said.

She noted though that transporting the remains of the deceased, who was not positive for the coronavirus, could still be done provided that this was coordinated with the concerned local governments and that the body need not be shipped by plane or boat.

As of Monday afternoon, the DOH saw an additional 82 infections, pushing the country’s total to 462.

An 18th patient has recovered, a 54-year-old hypertensive man from Manila who had been exposed to a confirmed case and who also recently traveled to Thailand.

1,622 tests

The DOH had so far conducted 1,622 tests. Vergeire said more than 600 patients under observation had tested negative.

Another 600 remained under observation, while more than 6,300 were classified as people under monitoring and on home quarantine.

On Monday, the DOH office in the Bicol region began looking for people who had interacted with a singer who performed during a birthday party in Legazpi City, Albay province, on March 11. The singer died of COVID-19 on Thursday.

Ernie Vera, DOH Bicol chief, said his office was looking for more than 200 people, including primary and secondary contacts, and guests at the party.

—With reports from Julie M. Aurelio, Mar S. Arguelles and Rey Anthony Ostria