Makati Medical Center says a quarter of its COVID-19 patients recovered
MANILA, Philippines — About a quarter of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients confined at the Makati Medical Center (MMC) have recovered from the new pathogen, the hospital's management said on Tuesday.
MMC medical director doctor Saturnino Javier confirmed this in a radio interview with radio dzMM that same day.
According to Javier, the hospital had discharged 29 out of its 103 coronavirus patients—good for 28%—after they tested negative for the disease.
"This isn't a seal of death. Just because you have COVID-19 doesn't mean that's your final death sentence," he said in a mix of Filipino and English.
There are still 35 others in the hospital who tested positive for COVID-19, along with some 50 symptomatic persons under investigation.
The doctor also disclosed that majority of those who recovered were between the ages of 40 and 60 years old.
Though the health department has required its patients to test negative twice before discharging, MMC admitted that patients were sent home after testing negative just once and recovered "based on clinical symptoms." They were also advised to observe strict precautions, such as wearing masks, for 14 days.
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Javier said that patients who were sent home are instead tested for a second time as outpatients.
"We treat them as not completely free of the disease or the virus, so they still need to take extra precautions," the doctor explained.
"If we still waited for two tests to yield negative results, we would no longer be able to admit new patients, and our hospital capacity would only fill up and we wouldn't be able to service patients who need it more," he added.
The Department of Health on Monday reported 128 new coronavirus cases and seven additional deaths while the number of recovered patients remained stationary at 42, bringing the total number of patients in the country to 1,546, while the death toll reached 78.
As of this writing, the number of active COVID-19 cases in the Philippines stands at 1,426.
The United Nations has warned the international community that the "whole of humanity" was put at risk by the novel coronavirus, saying millions could day if collective action was not taken. — Franco Luna
If you believe you have come into possible contact with infected patients, you may be directed to the proper office of the Department of Health for advice through the following lines: (632) 8651-7800 local 1149/1150 or (632) 165-364.
You may also opt to call the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine at (02) 8807-2631/ 8807-2632/ 8807-2637.
Photo shows members of the Philippine National Police deployed in Manila amid COVID-19 threat. The STAR/Edd Gumban
President Rodrigo Duterte on March 16, 2020 declares an enhanced community quarantine over all of mainland Luzon, an expansion of an earlier general community quarantine over the National Capital Region.
The entire National Capital Region—16 cities and a municipality—is under community quarantine from March 15 to April 14, which means the enforcement of social distancing measures like letting fewer people on public transportation, reduced store hours, and the possibiity of curfews.
According to a memorandum issued by the Palace on Saturday, March 14, the quarantine means that "movement of people shall be limited to accessing basic necessities and work; and uniformed personnel and quarantine officers shall be present at border points."
Travel restrictions in and out of the capital will also be implemented.
A labor group says another lockdown will never resolve rising COVID-19 cases in the Philippines after the government announced that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under the enhanced community quarantine starting Monday.
“The Duterte government seems to be deliberate in focusing its efforts in imposing quarantine and lockdown measures instead of addressing the rising cases of COVID-19 and the worsening state of the pandemic through medical solutions and scientific approach,” says Defend Jobs Philippines.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque says the implementation of enhanced community quarantine is meant to slow down the increase of COVID-19 cases, so hospitals and health workers will not be overwhelmed.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announces that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under enhanced community quarantine starting Monday, March 29.
Tuguegarao City will be placed under enhanced community quarantine from January 20 to 29 due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the city.
Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba approved the request of Tuguegarao Mayor Jefferson Soriano to place the city under ECQ for 10 days.
According to the Cagayan Provincial Information Office, the city currently has 246 active cases.
BREAKING NEWS | ENERO 19, 2021 RIATF INAPRUBAHAN NA ANG PAGSASAILALIM SA TUGUEGARAO CITY SA 10-ARAW NA...
Posted by Cagayan Provincial Information Office on Tuesday, 19 January 2021
Batangas, one of the provinces hardest hit by the novel coronavirus, has reported no new cases of the disease for two consecutive days.
The provincial DOH Office says the number of COVID-19 cases in the province stood at 91 with no new cases as of Wednesday afternoon.
Lipa City has the most cases with 26, followed by Batangas City (21) and Nasugbu (11).
Tanauan City has the fourth most cases with eight, followed by Bauan (5) and Alitagtag (3). Cuenca and Sto. Tomas City had two cases each, while the municipalities of Calaca, Lemery, Lian, Lobo, Mabini, Mataas na Kahoy, Padre Garcia, San Jose, San Juan, San Pascual and Taal had one case each, respectively. — The Filipino Connection
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