Nine new cases of COVID-19 reported, raising total to 33: DOH

March 10, 2020

Nine new Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients have been reported by the Department of Health (DOH), raising total number of positive cases in the country to 33.

In a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Assistant Health Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said nine new cases are separate from the four disclosed by President Rodrigo Duterte on late Monday night.

The 21st patient 21 is a 58-year-old Filipino female with no travel history, who experienced symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath and is admitted at the Dr Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital.

The 22nd patient is a 51-year-old Filipino female with no travel history, who experienced symptoms of colds, dysphagia, and cough. She is at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center.

The 23rd patient is a 30-year-old Filipino female with no travel history, who experienced symptoms of cough, sore throat, and headache. She is at the San Lazaro Hospital.

The 24th patient is a 52-year-old Filipino male with travel history to Switzerland, who experienced unspecified symptoms and is admitted at the St Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City.

The 25th patient is a 31-year-old Filipino male repatriated from the MV Diamond Princess cruise ship and asymptomatic. He is at the New Clark City quarantine facility.

Ther 26th patient is a 34-year-old Filipino male repatriated from the MV Diamond Princess cruise ship, who is asymptomatic. He is at the New Clark City quarantine facility.

The 27th patient is a 42-year-old Filipino female with no travel history, who experienced symptoms of cough. She is at the Medical City.

The 28th patient is a 69-year-old Filipino male with history of exposure to a known COVID-19 case, who experienced symptoms of fever and cough. He is  now admitted at the Medical City.

The 29th patient is an 82-year-old Filipino female with history of exposure to a COVID-19 case and asymptomatic. She is admitted at the Medical City.

The 30th patient is a 69-year-old Filipino female with history of exposure to a COVID-19 case. She experienced unspecified symptoms and is admitted at the Medical City.

The 31st patient is a 28-year-old Filipino female with no travel history and who experienced unspecified symptoms. She is admitted at the Medical City.

The 32nd patient is a 64-year-old Filipino male with no travel history and experienced unspecified symptoms. He is admitted at the Medical City.

The 33rd patient is a 60-year-old Filipino male with no travel history and who experienced symptoms of fever, cough, and dizziness. He is admitted at the Medical City.

Vergeire said DOH cannot declare a community transmission yet despite the surge in cases.

"We are awaiting the gene sequencing, where we analyze the samples from our patients, who are positive, so we can determine if there are epidemiological links to one another," said Vergeire.

"We need to get all information by tonight so that we can readily analyze and conclude whether there is a sustained community transmission," she added.

"We want to analyze the data immediately because we don't want to be late in declaring a community transmission so that our response will be amplified accordingly," she said. DMS