Elderly PUIs with mild symptoms must go to hospital to test for COVID-19: DOH

March 16, 2020

The Department of Health (DOH) has decided to limit the testing of those considered as persons under investigation (PUIs). 

PUIs with mild symptoms, who have no pre-existing medical conditions, and non-elderly don't have to be tested for the virus and are advised to undergo home quarantine. 

"Do not immediately go to hospitals because it might even cause transmission of the disease," said Assistant Health Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in a television interview. 

Those with severe symptoms and elderly must be tested for COVID-19 in Level 2 or 3 medical facilities

"For the elderly, even if they have mild symptoms only, they should already go to a hospital," said Vergeire. 

The DOH said this is consistent with the surveillance definition of COVID-19 by the World Health Organization as of February 27, 2020. 

Considered as PUIs are those with acute respiratory illness, fever of 38°C and cough or shortness of breath or other respiratory symptoms; travel to or residence in a country reporting local transmission of COVID-19; and close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patients. 

Previously, all PUIs are automatically tested for COVID-19 and admitted for isolation and case management in medical facilities. 

In a related development, the DOH has prohibited all private and public hospitals from releasing any information related to confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases to the public. 

According to Department Memorandum No. 2020-0110, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said hospitals and other healthcare facilities are not allowed to release such information ahead of the agency and the local government units (LGUs) concerned. 

"All public and private hospitals and other healthcare facilities are hereby prohibited to report or release information related to any suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths prior to the first, DOH, and, second, the concerned LGU," said Duque. 

He said that considered as official release of information by the DOH are through press conferences, press releases, statements, or via official social media accounts of the Health Department. 

This, he said, is in order to prevent any confusion among the public on the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths. 

"(This is) to ensure harmonized reporting, prevent the circulation of unverified information, and avoid confusion among the public on COVID-19," said the health chief. DMS