GUINOBATAN, Albay—The Bicol region continued its lucky streak against COVID-19 on Wednesday (March 24), after results from 15 more persons under investigation (PUI), or those with symptoms, turned out to be negative.
The regional office of the Department of Health (DOH) said results of tests made on respiratory samples taken from 19 more PUI on quarantine have yet to be known.
At least 11 of the PUI are on quarantine in hospitals in Albay (4), Camarines Norte (1), Camarines Sur (3), Masbate (1) and Sorsogon (2), while eight are in their homes under self-quarantine.
But the number of persons under monitoring (PUM), or those with no symptoms, had risen to 116,729, according to reports collated by the DOH.
As of Wednesday (March 24), Bicol has no testing facility to confirm positive or negative COVID-19 cases. Samples taken from patients had to still be brought to Muntinlupa City in Metro Manila at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.
The distance that samples have to travel to be tested causes a delay of three to five days for results.