The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed on Wednesday 15 new cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections, bringing the total in the country to 202.
The health department also confirmed three new deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 17.
The newest fatality, PH201, is a 58-year-old Filipino male from Lanao del Sur. He recently traveled to Malaysia and was confined at the Amai Pakpak Medical Center on March 10. He died seven days later due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), where fluid fills the lungs secondary to COVID-19. ARDS is observed in severe COVID-19 cases. The DOH said PH201 also had diabetes.
The second new fatality is a 65-year-old Filipino male from Pasig City tagged as PH57. He was admitted at The Medical City in Ortigas on March 10. He was confirmed as a COVID-19 patient on March 13. He died on March 17 due to ARDS and pneumonia. PH57 had hypertension and diabetes. He had a travel history to London.
The last reported fatality is an 86-year-old Filipino female from San Juan City. Tagged as PH160, she was admitted to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center and tested positive for COVID-19 on March 16. According to the Department of Health, PH160 died a day later due to “septic shock second to pneumonia-high risk secondary to COVID-19,”. The DOH said she does not have any travel history or exposure to a known COVID-19 case. She was said to be suffering from ischemic heart disease, peripheral arterial occlusive disease and chronic kidney disease secondary to hypertensive nephrosclerosis,.
The country currently has recorded 7 patients who recovered from COVID-19 which include a 34-year-old Filipino male from Camarines Sur who was aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan; a 24-year-old Filipino male from Makati City who had a travel history to the United Arab Emirates; and a 34-year-old male from Quezon City with recently travelled to Australia.
On March 17, President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire island of Luzon under Enhanced Community Quarantine to curb the further spread of COVID-19. (Rommel F. Lopez)