QC looking into rising number of suspected COVID-19 deaths

The Quezon City Health Department has started looking into the rising number of suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) deaths in the city.

According to Saleema Refran's report on 24 Oras on Thursday, these involve persons under investigation who had died before the release of their COVID-19 tests, those with COVID-19-like symptoms, or those with respiratory diseases.

Since March 23, there have been 40 deaths under investigation in Quezon City.

Based on the patients' death certificates, the cases are as follows:

• 7 positive for COVID-19

• 4 pending COVID-19 test results

• 19 possible COVID-19 cases

• 14 patients with underlying conditions

"Aside from those positive confirmed cases, meron nga tayong sinasabing possibly untested but highly suspicious na posibleng COVID-19," an official said.

"'Yung iba hindi nilalagnat, bigla na lang magkakaron ng sintomas ng panghihina. So, lahat ng related sa pneumonia or respiratory failure, kino-consider namin sa ngayon na person under investigation," she added.

Due to this, the official said that the approach should be more aggressive to prevent the spread of the virus.

"Binibigay namin 'yung data doon sa mga district health officers para ma-mobilize 'yung tao sa barangay health centers in coordination with our barangay health emergency response teams para i-monitor na rin 'yung household contact nitong mga patients na ito," she said.

Contacts of persons whose deaths are under investigation must now also undergo a 14-day home quarantine.

The contacts are being monitored by the barangay emergency response team and the Barangay Health Center, according to the report.

In compliance to social distancing measures, local authorities are using technology such as online messaging in coordinating with the patients.

"Highly transmissible kasi 'yung virus, so we monitor the patients, and then kasama na rin doon 'yung health teachings sa kanila. So, may limitation but sa ganitong sitwasyon, it will do," a health official said.

Currently, there are 174 confirmed cases in Quezon City with 27 recorded fatalities, —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News