DOH makes changes in classification of COVID-19 cases

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health on Saturday amended its classifications for persons suspected for coronavirus disease (COVID-19), for a “uniformed reporting” of cases to help health workers prioritize patients according to their needs.

Citing Administrative Order no. 2020-0013, the DOH sought to identify patients instead  as “suspect,” “probable,” or “confirmed.”

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According to the new DOH guidelines, an individual is considered “suspect” if he/she carries influenza-like illness, such as fever of 38 degrees Celsius, as well as coughing and/or sore throat, and has had either of the following:

• Travel history to a place where local transmission of COVID-19 was recorded in the last 14 days before symptoms occurred
• Had close contact with a “confirmed” or “probable” COVID-19 patient in the last 14 days before symptoms occurred

One is also considered a “suspect” case if he/she has fever, cough or shortness of breath, and is one of the following:

• Is 60 years old and above
• Has a pre-existing medical condition
• Assessed as having a high-risk pregnancy
• Is a health worker

Further, one is a “suspect” case if he/she is experiencing a sudden and undetermined conditioned in the lungs that needs to be taken to the hospital.

Meanwhile, an individual is a “probable” case if his/her COVID-19 results are uncertain, and he/she has been tested in an unofficial laboratory that does RT-PCR test.

Lastly, someone is considered a “confirmed” case if the results of the RT-PCR testing came out positive for COVID-19.

Previously, the DOH classified suspected cases for COVID-19 as persons under investigation (PUI),  as well as persons under monitoring (PUM).

On Saturday, the DOH reported the Philippines already has 4,428 total cases of COVID-19, after recording 233 new cases. Some 26 more patients have died from the disease, bringing the COVID-19 death toll in the country to 247, while 17 more patients have recovered from the ailment, bringing the total number of recoveries to 157.

EDV