Quezon death count: Fatalities among coronavirus suspects rise to 47 from 28 in span of hours

LUCENA CITY—At least 19 people suspected of coronavirus infection in Quezon were added to the province’s list of COVID-19 fatalities, according to health authorities on Thursday (May 28).

In a 5 p.m. report, the Quezon public information office (QPIO) said the total number of people who died without knowing for sure if they were infected is now 47, a surge from 28 earlier in the day.

The report, citing the provincial health office, said a person, classified as a probable COVID-19 patient, had also died, bringing the death toll among those tagged as probable carriers to 16.

No details on the fatalities were given.

According to Department of Health (DOH) lingo, a person is considered suspected carrier if he or she shows symptoms like fever, cough or store throat two weeks after contact with an infected person or persons or had come from an infected place.

Those with symptoms but belong to what is considered as vulnerable segment of the population—elderly, those with preexisting health conditions, pregnant women and health care workers—are also considered as coronavirus suspects.

A person is considered probable if his or her test results were inconclusive.

Health office records showed the province has at least 1,869 individuals considered as coronavirus suspects. Of these, however, at least 1,679 are already out of hospitals or were finished with home quarantine.

More than 78 coronavirus suspects are confined in different hospitals and 65 are on home quarantine.

The province has 94 COVID-19 cases, with 68 recoveries and eight deaths, as of Thursday. At least 18 infected persons are confined in hospitals.

Edited by TSB