2 more COVID-19 suspects die in Quezon; total of deaths now at 16

LUCENA CITY — Two more suspected carriers of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), formerly classified as persons under investigation or PUI, have died in Quezon province, bringing the total recorded local fatalities to 16 as of Sunday.

The Quezon Public Information Office (QPIO), citing information from the Integrated Provincial Health Office, disclosed in its 1 p.m. bulletin the death of two new unnamed suspects. On Saturday, the recorded victims were only 14.

The QPIO did not provide details on the new fatalities, particularly if the victims had already undergone laboratory tests or if their results have yet to be released.

But Sariaya Vice Mayor Alex Tolentino revealed that one of the latest casualties died early Sunday at the Quezon Medical Center in Lucena City.

The fatality was a vegetable vendor in Manila who returned to Sariaya on April 5 but already had fever, cough and diarrhea symptoms.

The latest report showed that the COVID-19 suspected cases in the province rose to 608, from Saturday’s 565.

But out of 608 recorded COVID-19 suspected cases in Quezon province since the pandemic broke out, at least 330 have already been cleared of any symptoms of the dreaded disease.

The report also showed that 96 suspects have been discharged from medical facilities and another 234 completed the mandatory 14-day home quarantine period.

The report further revealed that 71 suspects were still confined in different hospitals, while another 191 were on home quarantine.