DOH: Philippines records 17 new suspected cases of COVID-19

More than a dozen new suspected cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were recorded in the Philippines, according to the Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday.

Based on the data released by DOH at 10 a.m., 17 out of the cumulative total of 556 persons under investigation in the country were new additions to the list.

Meanwhile, the number of PUIs admitted at hospitals continues to go down, the DOH also pointed out.

Only around a quarter or 133 are still confined at various medical facilities in the country. Metro Manila continues to host the highest number of PUIs as only 27 remains admitted at hospitals in other regions.

The other 420 PUIs were already discharged.

Meanwhile, two out of the three confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country have also been able to recover, as previously reported. The other one died while being observed at San Lazaro Hospital in Manila.

To date, there is still no reported local transmission of the COVID-19 in the country but the DOH assured that preparations have been made to effectively face the threat.

The virus has already infected over 74,000 and killed more than 2,000 in China where the outbreak originated. —Dona Magsino/KBK, GMA News