51% of persons under investigation for COVID-19 in Philippines test negative —DOH

More than half of the suspected cases of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) in the Philippines have so far tested negative for infection, according to data from the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday morning.

Of the total 382 PUIs reported in the country, 196 tested negative and were already cleared.

On the other hand, three tested positive while 183 other suspected cases are awaiting the results of laboratory tests.

Most of the PUIs were reported in Metro Manila, Central Visayas, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Western Visayas, based on DOH's real-time tracker.

The tracker does not indicate the nationalities of those under investigation for possible infection.

The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) runs the confirmatory tests needed to determine if a PUI in the country has COVID-19. Test results usually take 24 to 48 hours, according to the DOH.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III previously said that other Level 3 hospitals and laboratories in the Philippines will be equipped with test kits to reduce the turnaround time in detecting infected persons. —KBK, GMA News