Philippines' 2nd COVID-19 fatality died prior to confirmation of disease —hospital

The Philippines’ second fatality due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) died prior to receiving confirmation that she was infected with the disease, the Manila Doctors Hospital said Thursday.

The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed the death of Patient 35, a 67-year-old Filipino woman, late Wednesday night.

The Manila Doctors Hospital said the patient was admitted to their facility and isolated on March 5 pending results of the sample sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for testing.

“She succumbed to the disease prior to the release of the result from RITM on March 11, 2020,” the hospital said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri confirmed that the fatality was the wife of a resource person at a Senate hearing last week. 

"The resource person himself is in critical condition now," Zubiri added.

Meanwhile, the Manila Doctors Hospital also confirmed that another positive COVID-19 case is under its care.

“He is currently in isolation and is in stable condition. He will be transferred to a referral facility as per the request of family members,” the statement read.

The hospital assured the public that it observed the necessary safety protocols to prevent the spread of the disease in the facility.

The Philippines has 49 COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday, according to the DOH. —Julia Mari Ornedo/KBK, GMA News