DOH: 29 people who came in contact with 2 new COVID-19 cases traced

Authorities have located the individuals who came in contact with the two new confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday.

In an interview on Quick Response Team, Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the DOH had begun testing the more than 29 traced individuals for the virus.

"Para po dito sa ating fourth case, meron na tayong 9 na katao na na-trace na po natin, na nakuhanan na rin po natin ng mga specimens para ma i-test," Vergeire said.

"Dito naman po sa ating pang-limang pasyente, meron na po tayong na trace na more than 20 na po na mga tao na iniimbestigahan sa ngayon," she added.

The fourth confirmed COVID-19 case is a 48-year-old Filipino male with travel history from Japan. He returned in late February and began showing symptoms on March 3.

The fifth confirmed case is a 62-year-old Filipino male in San Juan City with no travel history abroad, but had frequently visited a prayer hall in Barangay Greenhills. 

"Sa ngayon po, sir, ang aming sinasabi [is] we have a local case. [H]indi pa rin po natin masabi kung meron tayong local transmission dahil hindi pa ho kumpleto ang aming impormasyon," Vergeire explained.

According to Vergeire, the testing on the traced individuals needed to be completed before the DOH could confirm if there had been local transmission of COVID-19.

The health official also reminded the public to wash their hands, follow the proper cough etiquette, and avoid large crowds and overseas travel.

"'Wag ho tayong mangamba. Tayo [lang] maging vigilant. Makinig lang ho kayo lagi sa mga advisories natin na galing sa ating official source of information," Vergeire said.

"'Wag ho tayong tumanggap ng mga fake news, no, para maibsan po 'yung mga misconceptions ukol sa sakit na ito," she emphasized. —Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News