NO COVID-19 INFECTION 29 PUIs test negative; released from hospitals

ILOILO City – Twenty-nine patients under investigation (PUIs) for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Western Visayas all tested negative for the virus. They were thus discharged from the hospital, said Regional Director Marlyn Convocar of the Department of Health (DOH).

Of the 29, nine were from Aklan, two from Antique, two from Capiz, seven from Iloilo province, three from Negros Occidental, three from Bacolod City, and three from this city.

However, three new PUIs were admitted to a private hospital in Roxas City in Capiz on Feb. 13.

According to DOH Region 6 epidemiologist Dr. Glen Alonsabe, one was a female overseas Filipino worker from Hong Kong.

She returned home just this Feb. 2 and a few days after she started coughing. On Feb. 11 she had herself checked in a hospital, said Alonsabe.

The two others were senior citizens from the United States vacating here. They dropped by Taiwan on Jan. 30 before proceeding to Capiz. They were also coughing.

“We are waiting for the results of their tests,” said Convocar.

Regarding the 29 discharged PUIs, Convocar said DOH would continue monitoring their health for the next two weeks or 14 days, particularly their body temperature.

The COVID-2019 infection seems to start with a fever, followed by a dry cough and then, after a week, leads to shortness of breath.

But in more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

A report on the early stages of the outbreak by the Lancet medical journal said most patients who died from the virus had pre-existing conditions.

DOH advises the public to avoid attending, participating in and organizing events that draw a huge number of attendees. It also recommends the cancellation of such planned big events or mass gatherings until further advice.

To further minimize the risk of contracting COVID-19, the public is advised to continuously practice self-protection measures. Personal cleanliness and hygiene at all times is vital to containing the spread of diseases and protecting the whole community, according to DOH.

“Indi kita dapat maging complacent nga naganubo (number of PUIs). Dapat vigilant man gihapon kita, especially those that naghalalin sa iban nga countries other than Hong Kong, Macau, China, and Taiwan. Kon may nag-alabot halin sa iban nga countries nga may positive cases, kinanglan magkadto gid kita sa health centers para ma-evaluate kita,” said Convocar.

Dr. Ma. Sophia Pulmones, head of the DOH Region 6’s Local Health Support Division, said the region has 14 hospitals identified by the provincial and local government units (LGUs) as referral hospitals in case the number of PUIs surges.

Five of these hospitals are in Negros Occidental; three each in Aklan and Capiz; and one each in Antique, Iloilo, and Guimaras provinces.

In addition, the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Iloilo City, Western Visayas Sanitarium in Santa Barbara, Iloilo and the Corazon Locsin Memorial Medical Center (CLMMC) in Bacolod City are also identified as referral hospitals.

WVMC and CLMMC are capable of handling severe cases while uncomplicated and mild pneumonia cases will be referred to local government unit-managed hospitals.

These hospitals have isolation rooms and are already implementing infection prevention and control protocol.

“As of now, for purposes of our COVID-19 and admission of PUIs, we re-oriented our health workers in hospitals on the donning of personal protective equipment,” said Pulmones./PN