Citing HK report, DOH urges recovered COVID-19 patients to stay cautious

MANILA, Philippines — Patients who have recovered from the coronavirus infection should still take necessary precautions to avoid contracting the disease again, local health authorities said amid recently-released studies on possible reinfections.

The Department of Health (DOH) gave this reminder on Tuesday after the University of Hong Kong reported the world’s first documented case of reinfection, when a 33-year-old man got infected with the coronavirus again — not just a remnant of the previous infection — after over four months.

The DOH stressed that recovered COVID-19 patients should not be complacent and should never be lured into thinking that they had become immune.

“The [DOH] is issuing this statement in relation to a recent press release from the University of Hong Kong which documented a patient who was infected with two distinct SARS-CoV-2 viruses, one after the other.  DOH and its Technical Advisory Group emphasize that no evidence-based evaluation can be done until after the details of the study are released in a peer-reviewed scientific journal,” DOH said.

“We advise the public to always err on the side of caution.  What we do not want to happen is for people who have been infected with COVID-19 in the past to assume that they are already immune to the disease,” it added.

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Earlier, the University of Hong Kong said that the patient was confined last March 26, and was discharged on April 14.  On Aug. 15, he tested positive again after returning from a trip to Spain.

The DOH assured that it would monitor developments on the said issue.  But in the meantime, everyone — including recovered patients — should follow minimum health protocols to avoid coronavirus transmissions.

“Rest assured that DOH is closely monitoring the issue and we are ready to evaluate and act on it once reliable scientific information is available,” the department said.

“Until we fully understand what we are up against, everyone should follow the minimum health standards (using face masks, handwashing, and physical distancing).  No exceptions.  Right now, in the midst of uncertainty and public health crisis, thoughtful and rigorous science will be our guide,” it added.

As of Tuesday, the country recorded over 197,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 3,038 of the patients dead and 132,396 recovered.  With this, the Philippines maintained its place as the country with the highest number of confirmed cases in Southeast Asian.

[atm]