DOH validating 2nd coronavirus fatality

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday bared that it is validating whether or not the ninth confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient has died.

The patient is an 86 year – old American who resides in Marikina City, and is currently admitted at Medical City in Ortigas, Pasig City.

The patient was also known to have pre-existing hypertension, and had a history of travel to the United States and South Korea.

“Meron tayong binabantayan na isa, di ko alam kung  totoo na pabalita sa akin na isa daw Amerikano, isang pasyente, mukhang pumanaw kaninang umaga. Pero we still have to validate that. Pero ganun din, may pre-existing condition,” Health chief Francisco Duque III said in an interview on DZMM.

(We are monitoring one, I don’t know if it’s true but an American, who is a patient, reportedly died this morning. But we still have to validate that.  The patient has a pre-existing medical condition.)

After the first case of the coronavirus in Marikina City was confirmed, Mayor Marcelino Teodoro ordered the “massive disinfection” of the city.

This also prompted him to suspend the Palarong Pambansa 2020.

The Philippines, so far, has 24 confirmed cases of the deadly virus, as well as one fatality—also known as the first death recorded outside of China, where the COVID-19 first broke out late last year.

 GSG