52 Filipinos now infected with COVID-19

March 12, 2020

Three new Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases were confirmed by the Department of Health (DOH) Thursday , bringing the total number of patients with the disease to 52.

In a statement, the DOH reported that three new cases have been confirmed with their close contacts being traced by their field personnel with concerned local government officials.

"The DOH and deployed surveillance teams, in cooperation with concerned Local Government Units, are now conducting extensive information-gathering and contact tracing activities on the new cases," said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

Patient 50 is a 69-year-old Filipino female with no travel history, and is admitted at The Medical City.

Patient 51 is a 26-year-old Filipino male with no travel history, and is admitted at the Makati Medical Center.

Patient 52 is a 79-year-old Filipino female with history of travel to the United Kingdom, and is admitted at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center.

Duque said persons with history of known exposure to a positive patient or travel to areas with local transmission, within and outside the country, presenting with mild symptoms are advised to self-isolate and be home quarantined for 14 days.

"Let us be responsible with our own health, family’s well being, and that of our community," Duque said.

The DOH encouraged the public to undertake disinfection activities.

According to DOH Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire, those undertaking disinfection activities need not to use highly sophisticated disinfectants against COVID-19.

"What they need to do is just clean the area, where the case have been to, with our regular household bleach (.1 percent) then maintain it for 24 hours. After that, they can already use the area," said Vergeire.

''Our advise is just their regular cleaning activities will be enough and sufficient. Like when they close at night and clean the area, by the next day, they can already open the establishment," said Vergeire. DMS