LEGAZPI CITY –– The 5-year-old girl, who died in Albay on Saturday, tested negative for coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Provincial Health Office confirmed on Wednesday.
Antonio Ludovice, chief of the Provincial Health Office, said the girl from Daraga town was brought to the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH) on Saturday morning due to difficulty of breathing, and died of cardiac arrest.
The patient had a throat swab sample taken on the same day.
Ludovice said the child was cremated early Sunday as part of the Department of Health protocol on suspected carriers of the disease.
Ludovice earlier said that the patient had a previous consultation at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City from March 6 to 8, and was scheduled for an operation due to congenital heart disease.
The patient also had a consultation at the BRTTH on March 13 due to cough, was given antibiotics, and sent home.